A boy was killed Monday night when he accidentally shot himself with an unsecured firearm in Durham, police say.
According to the Durham Police Department, officers received reports of a shooting around 9 p.m. on North Briggs Avenue. When they arrived, they found a 4-year-old boy with a gunshot wound.
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EMS took the boy to a local hospital, where he later died.
A GoFundMe page identified the boy as four-year-old Kamarii.
Police said, based on their preliminary investigation, he shot himself after finding the unsecured gun inside the home.
Rhonda Rappoccio told WRAL News she was working at a store nearby when people came running over, saying a child got shot.
When Rappoccio went outside, she said she saw the 4-year-old boy and his mother in the street. She held the child's sister while they waited for EMS to arrive.
"Oh my god," Rappoccio said. "[All I could say] is no no no ... I walked up and the mom had people around her. I grabbed the baby girl and held onto her. She was screaming."
Visibly emotional, Rappoccio told WRAL she was a great-grandmother herself.
“Makes me want to love on my kids a little more right now,” she said.
Rappoccio said the family had just recently moved to the area.
As of now, no charges have been filed. Police said their investigation is still ongoing.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Investigator D. Johnson at 919-560-4415 ext. 29541. People with information can also submit a CrimeStoppers tip online at durhamcrimestoppers.org or call 919-683-1200.
Gun Violence this year
16 children and teenagers have been victims of shootings in Durham this year.
According to the Department of Public Safety, guns are the leading cause of death for children in North Carolina.
WRAL has covered multiple accidental discharges of firearms recently-
In March, a Henderson mother was charged after her 5-year-old daughter was shot by another child playing with a gun, and in May, a pair of Mebane parents were charged after their child shot themselves in a car.
Gun safety resources
The WRAL Documentary "UnSafe" shows the devastation toll of youth gun violence and a simple solution that has bipartisan support that could save lives.
Learn about how to store your firearms safely at home and on the go, how to talk to your children about gun safety and how to make sure that schools and playdates are a safe environment from NC S.A.F.E.
Download a free gun safety kit or request a free gun lock from Project Child Safe.
The Durham County Gun Safety Program also offers outreach events, best safety practices and free gun locks on request.