An Indiana boy has tragically passed away after accidentally shooting himself in the head with a gun he found in his parents' room.
Police say 4-year-old Cash Irby Jr. was pronounced dead on Saturday after an accidental gunshot wound to the head. Merrillville Police Chief Jeff Rice said Irby found the gun in his parents' room, brought it to his bedroom, and fired one fatal shot.
The incident reportedly happened while the boy's mom was bathing his 5-year-old sister and his dad was tending to his 1-year-old brother.
His cousin Kelly White-Gibson says "His mother had been bathing his sister and his father was with the baby when he heard a shot. Baby Cash was in his room, playing. [The father] went into his room and saw him and called 911 and stayed on the line until police arrived. The first call I got, I heard crying in the background. About an hour later, I got another call saying they were at the hospital."
The family says the boy climbed the shelves in his parents' closet to reach the gun that was on the top shelf.
White-Gibson said "they always kept it up in the closet behind shoes and clothes and boxes so we're not sure how he ever saw it."
She adds "Baby Cash was just such a bright child. Just an affectionate little boy, very active, very playful. And he was such a daddy's boy. He used to climb up on his lap and kiss him every five minutes. He and his sister would play all the time, so well together. He was just so smart, too smart, obviously."
"The parents are devastated, as can be expected." White-Gibson said. "The mother is really distraught."
Police and child services are still investigating the incident.
