A tragic shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Burger King located on Van Fleet Drive in Bartow, Florida.
- What Happened: Initial reports indicated a young child suffered a gunshot wound while inside a parked vehicle outside the restaurant.
- Investigating Agencies: The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) responded to assist the Bartow Police Department with the ongoing scene investigation.
Key Updates
- Child’s Condition: While initial emergency dispatches listed the victim as a 4-year-old critically wounded, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd confirmed during a press briefing that the child—identified as a 3-year-old boy—tragically passed away from his injuries.
- Cause: According to Sheriff Grady Judd, preliminary investigative findings show the toddler managed to gain access to a loaded handgun left inside his father’s vehicle and accidentally discharged the firearm.
A three-year-old child who was approaching his fourth birthday has died after reportedly shooting himself inside his father’s vehicle at the Burger King drive-through in Bartow.
Investigators say the father was having difficulty paying for their dinner. While searching for another payment card, he removed a handgun from his waistband and set it down inside the vehicle.
The child was unrestrained in the back seat. Moments later, the father heard a loud pop, got out of the vehicle, and became frantic. Bystanders immediately called 911 and stepped in to help the father and injured child.
Emergency crews responded around 6:31 p.m. The child was rushed to Lakeland Regional Health, where he was pronounced deceased around 7:30 p.m.
First responders and hospital staff worked to save his life, but despite their efforts, he did not survive.
Investigators observed a bullet hole through the vehicle’s roof. The father acknowledged setting the handgun down while searching for payment and said he did not realize his child had picked it up before the shooting.
Bartow Police detectives and Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating. Their findings will be submitted to State Attorney Brian Haas’s office for review, including whether the circumstances support a charge of culpable negligence. No charging decision has been announced.
Please keep this child’s family, the bystanders who helped, and the responders and medical professionals who fought to save him in your thoughts.