5-Year-Old in Killeen Dies From Gunshot Wound

A young child in Killeen passed away on April 21 from a gunshot wound.

According to a press release from the Killeen Police Department, a 5-year-old boy died from a gunshot wound to the head. Law enforcement received a dispatch from 911 about a shooting victim and arrived at the 4500 block of Alan Kent Drive at approximately 11:25 AM.

Despite their best efforts, first responders and EMS were not able to save the child's life. Just 38 minutes after officers first arrived on the scene, the young boy was pronounced deceased by Justice of the Peace Daryl Peters.

Based on a preliminary investigation detectives with the Special Victims Unit believe that the child's death was accidental. The Criminal Investigation Unit found," that the child obtained a loaded firearm within the residence and caused their own death, accidentally."

If you keep a gun in your home, practicing gun safety 24/7 is a necessity, and so is a gun lock. A federal gun violence prevention program called Project ChildSafe helps raise awareness about gun safety and provides gun locks to local Police Departments free of charge.

To date, Project ChildSafe has partnered with over 15,000 law enforcement agencies in communities across the country. You can receive a free gun lock from the following Police Departments here in central Texas.

Waco
Temple
Belton
Hewitt
Austin
Bastrop
Beverly Hills
Copperas Cove
Corsicana
Lampasas

If you notice, the city of Killeen is not listed. Only partners of Killeen Law Enforcement can request for the Killeen Police Department to join the program. Again, according to Project ChildSafe, gun locks are provided and shipped at no cost to law enforcement.

Accident or not, this child's death is tragic and our sincerest condolences go out to those mourning the loss of this young boy.