Birmingham, Ala. — A heartbreaking accident in East Birmingham has claimed the life of a 6-year-old boy after he accidentally shot himself with a firearm found inside an apartment. The tragedy occurred shortly before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Madison Park apartments off Sunhill Road.
East Precinct officers responded to a report of a person shot on the 700 block of 24th Avenue Northwest. Upon arrival, they discovered the young boy with a gunshot wound to the head. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead at the scene.
A family member at the scene emotionally said, “That was my only grandson,” underscoring the devastating impact on the family.
Authorities say the child was inside an apartment with two adults when he entered a room, discovered an unsecured firearm, and accidentally discharged it. Both adults were taken to police headquarters for questioning, though it has not yet been determined whether criminal charges will be filed.
Officer De’Rell Freeman emphasized the critical importance of firearm safety, stating, “This is a situation where we harp on gun safety and adults securing firearms so that situations like this don’t happen. Our heart goes out to his family.”
Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett also addressed the tragedy, highlighting the emotional toll on officers and the preventable nature of the incident. “It’s very difficult for an officer to see a child that’s lost their life,” Pickett said. He confirmed that counseling would be offered to all officers who responded to the scene.
Chief Pickett stressed the responsibility of adults to prevent such tragedies. “We can’t say it any more strongly — it’s incumbent on us as adults to protect our children. The fact of the matter is you have to secure these weapons. This is preventable.”
The chief noted that similar incidents have occurred multiple times in Birmingham in recent years, with accidental shootings involving juveniles reported several times this year alone. “Guns are so accessible, but people need to understand the amount of damage they can cause in a single moment. An entire community’s life is changed because of irresponsibility with a firearm,” Pickett said.
As authorities continue their investigation, the community is left mourning the loss of a young life and reminded of the urgent need for proper firearm storage and safety measures in homes with children.