2-Year-Old Georgia Boy Shoots Father To Death While Playing With Gun At Home

A man in Jones County, Georgia, was accidentally shot dead by his 2-year-old son.

The victim, identified as 28-year-old Jason Fowler, was shot in the back while his toddler son accidentally triggered the gun that he was playing with. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

The horrifying incident was reported on the night of April 23 at the family’s residence on 289 Highway 49.

Fowler was on the phone talking to someone while he was shot. He told the person that he was shot, who immediately called 911. The unidentified person also informed Fowler’s neighbors about the incident who rushed to the house for help. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

“The victim was sitting down, was shot in the back,” Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece told local media. “He calls someone and tells them he’d been shot. When deputies arrived, he’d passed away."

A preliminary investigation showed that Fowler’s son accidentally shot him after the toddler found the gun in the house and started playing with it. The investigation revealed that the gun belonged to Fowler and he was carrying it when he came home. He then took it out of his pocket and carelessly placed it on the shelf.

“What we know so far is the toddler was playing with the gun and shot Mr. Fowler in his back,” Reece said.

Fowler and the 2-year-old were the only people in the house when the incident occurred.

“The mother left to go to the grocery store when Mr. Fowler got home and left the toddler with him,” Reece said.

According to Reece, police believe that's what happened in the house, but an investigation was underway to confirm it. He added that the victim’s family was notified.

“This certainly is a tragedy for all involved and the child. This family will be in our prayers,” Reece said. “This is a terrible way for a young person to start his life."

In a similar incident that was reported in Arizona on April 21, a 3-year-old boy accidentally shot himself with a handgun that he found in his home. Luckily the boy survived with non-life threatening injuries