McDONOUGH, Ga. -- Henry County officials said an autopsy will be performed Monday morning after a 1-year-old dies from being shot. Police say a 3-year-old adopted sibling was also in the room at the time of the shooting.
A spokesperson for the department initially told 11Alive that authorities responded to the 900 block of King Mill Road in McDonough on Saturday afternoon on reports that a 10-year-old shot a 1-year-old. However an officer on the scene later confirmed that the older child was only 3-years-old.
At this point, officials are unsure if the 3-year-old shot the 1-year-old or if the younger child's fatal wound was self-inflicted. The weapon has been turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to help answer that question.
Investigators believe an adult left the gun in the same room that the victim was in and that they "weren't paying attention" when one of the children grabbed the firearm, described as a .45 caliber handgun.
The younger child was taken to Piedmont Hospital where he was pronounced dead around 5 p.m.
A statement was released by the boy's family:
"Please pray for our family as we mourn the tragic loss of our son, Noah. Noah was a miracle baby from the start, defying all odds just to be born in the first place. He was a bundle of joy that lit up a room and made us all laugh and smile. He was on the run and climbing everything in sight from the time he woke up until he went to bed. We will never understand why God called Noah home so soon, but he will live on in our hearts and memories forever."
Police have spoken with the parents and no charges have been filed at this time. The investigation is ongoing.
Check back for updates.
