6-year-old fatally shoots himself with gun he thought was a toy, mom tells Georgia cops
A 6-year-old is dead after his mom told police the boy found what he thought was a toy gun behind his family’s apartment and shot himself, according to authorities in Georgia.
The deadly incident happened around 3 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at an apartment complex in Calhoun, according to Police Chief Tony Pyle.
The boy’s mother said she walked outside to let the dog out, police said in a news release. Her son went behind the building and came back saying he’d found a “toy” before returning to their apartment, she told police.
The mother said she didn’t think much of it until she heard a “pop” and ran inside to find her son had shot himself in the head, police said. A 9 mm Taurus handgun was found next to him.
Police continue to investigate the shooting, saying “we do know the child died of the injury.”
He was identified as 6-year-old Zi Zi Olmstead, the Calhoun Times reported, citing police. Authorities said he was a student at Calhoun Primary School.
Michele Taylor, superintendent for Calhoun City Schools, said the district is “heartbroken” over Zi Zi’s loss.
“He was loved by his classmates, friends, teachers and staff members,” Taylor said in a statement. “We continue to keep his family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Calhoun is about 70 miles northwest of Atlanta.
This story was originally published November 9, 2022 at 11:25 AM with the headline "6-year-old fatally shoots himself with gun he thought was a toy, mom tells Georgia cops."