Boy, 12, killed when handgun accidentally fires on Mother's Day

Boy, 12, killed when handgun accidentally fires on Mother's Day

Tools

By Meghan Kalkstein KATU News and KATU.com Staff

HAMMOND, Ore. - A 12-year-old Hammond boy was killed on Mother's Day after a handgun he was playing with inside his home accidentally fired, authorities said.

The boy, a sixth-grader at Warrenton Grade School, was not identified by Warrenton police. Police Chief Mathew Workman said an adult was inside the home with the boy when the accident happened about 10 a.m.

Workman said the .22-caliber handgun belonged to his family, and that there were multiple guns in the home that the boy had access to. He did not specify how they were secured.  He said the boy was a hunter and sportsman.

"The circumstances leading up to the gunshot wound, obviously we may never exactly know," said Workman.  "But it doesn't look like it was a cleaning type incident or anything like that, but it was definitely determined to be accidental."

Hammond is located near Astoria on the Oregon coast.

Warrenton police reminded parents and guardians to secure their firearms in a locked cabinet or use a trigger-lock/locking mechanism with them. The department also recommends storing firearms and ammunition separately and securing the ammunition. The department provides free gun locks at the police station through a federal program called “Project ChildSafe.”

Icon
Current Temp 47.0 °F
Overcast
More Weather

Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

On Demand

Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV.

Viewer Poll

What should Oprah do after her show ends Sept. 9, 2011?
Read more and join the discussion

  • Start a primetime talk show
  • Go into politics
  • Focus on the Web and her magazine
  • More philanthropic work in Africa
  • Whatever she wants; the world's her oyster!