A father is in mourning after his 3-year-old son fatally shot himself with an exposed firearm in a Burger King parking lot in Florida.
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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters that the father and son visited a Burger King located in Bartow, Florida around 6:23 PM local time on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Judd explained that the father had difficulty paying with his credit card during his trip through the drive-thru. He added that this was "not an unusual circumstance" since the family recently moved to the area.
While he sorted out the credit card issue, the father parked the car in the Burger King lot.
Judd said that the father removed his gun from his waistband, as he felt discomfort as he bent over to read the credit card numbers.
Moments later, the father heard "a loud pop."
"We think dad took the gun out, he laid it down," Judd said in a press conference. "He doesn't remember where. He's still in a state of shock. While he's trying to figure out how to pay for dinner on the credit card, the child obviously sees the gun, picks it up and is playing with it. And shoots himself in the face."
After the weapon was discharged, police said video footage shows the heartbroken father running around the parking lot as a nearby woman exited her car to call 911.
Father Unlikely to Face Charges After Son Fires Gun at Burger King
The child was rushed to Lakeland Regional Health. Despite the medical team's efforts, the toddler succumbed to his injuries around 7:30 PM.
"We know that they worked tirelessly in order to save this child's death. But it wasn't to be," Judd said.
Under Florida law, the father could be charged with a third-degree felony for culpable negiglence. However, Judd said that the the Polk County Sheriff's Office "would not have any energy at all for suggesting criminal charges."
Bartow Deputy Chief Kyle Dowdy also spoke during the briefing, stating that the father was "distraught."
"There is going to be a family without a son tonight, without a nephew, without a cousin," Dowdy said. "There's going to be a mom and dad. They're going to try to pick up the shambles of this horrific event."
