Two Milwaukee residents were arrested after a five-year-old boy accidentally killed himself with a handgun Tuesday, local news reported.
The two men, aged 35 and 58, were arrested for leaving the firearm unattended, which led to the child’s tragic death, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Southwest Milwaukee, per the outlet. Police said first responders rushed the victim to a children’s hospital, where he died. Fox6 identified the five-year-old as Elijo Gonzalez.
The two adults are in custody waiting to have their charges reviewed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, according to the Journal Sentinel.
The city’s mayor, Cavalier Johnson, tweeted about the “extremely upsetting” event Wednesday morning and made a call for gun owners to store their firearms away from young children. (RELATED: 4-Year-Old Accidentally Shoots And Kills Himself)
“This is extremely upsetting. I can’t fathom any reason why this 5 year old should be dead. My heart aches for the families of all children hurt by gunfire. Please make sure to secure guns in a gun safe, with a gun lock, and out of the reach of children,” Johnson posted.
This is extremely upsetting.
I can’t fathom any reason why this 5 year old should be dead. My heart aches for the families of all children hurt by gunfire.
Please make sure to secure guns in a gun safe, with a gun lock, and out of the reach of children.https://t.co/BGGiO82j2j
— Cavalier Johnson (@CavalierJohnson) February 22, 2023
The child’s death Wednesday marked three consecutive days on which a Milwaukee child has suffered gun-related injuries, the Journal Sentinel reported. On Sunday, a 13-year-old was shot and killed, and on Monday, two teenage girls were hospitalized after being shot.