A 2-year-old boy died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday after finding a handgun under his father’s pillow while he was sleeping in Jonesboro, police said.
The toddler, who has not been identified, walked into the bedroom where his father, 31-year-old Johnathan Butler, was sleeping in their home in the 300 block of Blackhawk Trail around noon, Clayton County police said in a news release.
The boy didn’t wake Butler, found a loaded handgun under his pillow and fired one shot, the release said. Clayton County Emergency Management Services took the boy to an area hospital, where he died.
The toddler’s mother, 24-year-old Naterika Pearman, was asleep in the front room during the incident, the release said.
Both parents are cooperating with law enforcement, and it’s unknown if charges will be filed, the release said.
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