2-Year-Old Boy Fatally Shoots Himself In The Head In Missouri Parking Lot

A 2-year-old boy has died after accidentally shooting himself in the head in St. Louis, Missouri.

The child was inside a car, parked inside an AutoZone parking lot, when he got hold of a gun and shot himself before 12:30 p.m. Monday, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said.

The boy was rushed to the hospital in a civilian vehicle, and was listed in critical condition. The police said he was pronounced dead at around 5 p.m. the same day, KMOV reported.

Details about who was with the child or the circumstances leading to the shooting were not revealed.

The toddler's death was being investigated by the police department's child abuse unit.

Residents and officials believe such tragedies can be avoided if parents or guardians take measures to safely store guns and keep them out of a child's reach.

The toddler involved in Monday's shooting was reportedly the 103rd child this year to have been shot in St. Louis, and the 13th to die of their injuries.

"It's devastating," Sharon Webb, the President of Mothers Advocating For Safe Streets, told KSDK.

"Kids are our greatest asset. How did that child get that gun?" Webb added.

Ali Khudier, who lives close by, stressed the need on keeping guns safely away from children.

"It's sad like you know when you hear something like that. The parents are supposed to be careful with these guns," Khudier told the outlet.

"I can't even comprehend this occurring. Gun locks are free," said Alderman Joe Vollmer, who also lives close to where the 2-year-old shot himself. "My message to gun owners is if you really don't need a gun, get rid of it. If you don't know how to use it, get training, but lock your guns. Protect your children."

"Everyone has guns now in Missouri because of the law, but this is a big mistake. When the family, the father or the mom, they put the gun around the kids," Khudier told KSDK. "This is what creates the problem. They should hide it somewhere or put it in a safe box or somewhere to not let the kids around it. That's what makes such a big problem around our city."