Oct 22, 2026
The Polk County Sheriffs Office said a 3-year-old boy has died after he accidentally shot himself inside a vehicle.The shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at a Burger King parking lot on East Van Fleet Drive in Bartow .Sheriff Grady Judd said the father went through the drive-thru when his credit card was not working.He said the family recently moved to Florida from Connecticut and that's likely why the card was not working.Authorities said the dad pulled into the parking lot and removed his firearm from his waistband.The child was playing in the backseat of the vehicle and got a hold of the firearm."We think dad took the gun out. He laid it down. He doesn't remember where, he's still in a state of shock and while he's trying to figure out how to pay for dinner on the credit card, the child obviously sees the gun, picks it up and is playing with it and shoots himself in the face," said Sheriff Judd.Sheriff Judd said the child was taken to Lakeland Regional Health and was pronounced dead.Authorities have reviewed surveillance video from the parking lot."When all of a sudden he hears a loud pop. We see him jump out of the car and frantically start running around. We see a lady next door...in the car next door to him, jump out and she's dialing 911," said Sheriff Judd. Sheriff Judd said no arrests were made Thursday evening.The case will be turned over to the Polk County State Attorney's Office and they will determine if charges will be filed. ...read more read less
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