NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 4-year-old boy died after he shot himself with a gun he found as he, his mother and his younger sibling were sitting in their car waiting for his father outside a Colorado marijuana dispensary, authorities said.
The boy was waiting in a car with his mother, 25-year-old Ashlynne Perez, and his younger sibling outside Maggie’s Farm Marijuana Dispensary in Manitou Springs around 12 p.m. on Tuesday as his father went inside to shop, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
While they were sitting in the car, the boy found a gun and shot himself in the head, the sheriff’s office said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The boy’s mother and father, 26-year-old Carlos Perez, were both arrested and charged with criminally negligent child abuse resulting in death, according to the sheriff’s office.
“This is a tragic investigation that not only affects the family of the victim, but it affects our community and our first responders,” the sheriff’s office said. “We want to remind the community to be sure to talk to your children about guns, even if you do not own guns.”
“If you own guns, gun safety must be taught to all those that are near the gun, the gun must be stored unloaded and locked up,” it added. “All keys to the locks should be hidden.”
Attorney information for the boy's parents wasn't immediately available Thursday. An investigation is ongoing.