8-Year-Old Dies in Accidental Shooting in Utah

An 8-year-old boy in Lehi, Utah, died after accidentally shooting himself with a loaded gun he found in his mother's car while she was inside a convenience store. The incident occurred on Monday evening, with the child succumbing to his injuries the following morning after being airlifted to a hospital. Witnesses reported hearing a gunshot followed by the mother's screams, indicating the child had shot himself in the head after discovering the firearm under a seat. This tragic event follows another recent incident where a 5-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in Santaquin, highlighting serious concerns about gun safety and accessibility for children in Utah, which lacks laws penalizing adults for failing to secure firearms. The police have classified the shooting as unintentional, and currently, no charges have been filed against the boy's mother as the investigation is ongoing. These incidents underscore the urgent need for improved firearm storage practices to prevent similar tragedies.