1-year-old dies after 5-year-old sibling finds a gun in apartment, Indiana police say

Moira Ritter
·1 min read
4

A 16-month-old was found dead in an apartment after he was shot by a sibling, Indiana officials say.

Lafayette police said they found the infant around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28. The boy had been shot by his 5-year-old sibling who police say found a gun in the apartment.

The county coroner on Wednesday identified the boy as Isiah Johnson, and an autopsy determined his preliminary cause of death was one gunshot wound, according to a news release from the Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office. The official manner of death will be determined when the investigation is complete and toxicology reports come back.

One adult and two children were inside the apartment when police arrived, Lt. Matt Gard told the Journal & Courier.

“When I arrived on scene, I don’t believe any life-saving measures were taken,” Gard told the outlet.

Someone outside called to report the shooting, according to the Associated Press. No arrests had been made as of Wednesday, March 29.

The investigation is ongoing, and police said they are collaborating with the coroner.

Lafayette Police Department shared gun safety tips March 29 on Facebook including:

  • Keeping “guns out of the reach and out of sight of children by storing them securely”

  • Storing “guns unloaded and secured with effective, child-resistant gun locks in a locked container”

  • Securing “ammunition in a separate locked container out of the reach and sight of children”

Lafayette is about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis.

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