Police announced that Chance Gilbert, an 8-year old Hamilton, Ohio boy who was killed by an accidental gunshot earlier this month, was shot by his nine-year old friend.  Chance and the 9-year old were playing with guns. 

“The only one in this whole investigation really who has shown courage and told the truth was the young boy who shot the other,” the County Prosecutor said. “I think that’s pathetic… The irony of this entire thing is there are adults who know whose gun this was, where it went after the boy was shot. It disappeared.” 

“This is not a street crime… This was a tragic accident inside the home.” The local police chief added.

Authorities believe that the nine-year old did not know that the gun was loaded.   They announced that he will not face any charges.  However, there is an ongoing investigation of the adults who may have covered up the circumstances of the accident.

Chance was a third-grader who played youth football.  According to his team, the Hamilton Saints, his number will be retired.  One of his coaches said:

“Chance was a beautiful person. If you got to meet Chance, he definitely made an impact on you. If we have five Chances we’d be all right because Chance is the type of guy he’s a coachable kid, very respectable.”

Ohio is a state that has suffered many gun accidents involving children in recent months.

Source:

Cameron Knight, “Deters: 8-year-old Killed by Another Child who Told the Truth When Adults Would Not,” Cincinnati.com (May 27, 2020).

Jenna Cisneros, “Football Number of 8-year-old Found Shot to Death to be Retired,”  WKRC Local 12 (May 19, 2020).