In Shishmaref, Alaska, a 12-year old boy was killed in a gun accident on Saturday August, 22, 2020. The best report of his death available on the internet is an incident report issued by Alaska’s Department of Public Safety. It reads, in full, as follows:
On 8/22/2020 at approximately 1921 hours, AST received a report of a 12 yr old with a gunshot wound in Shishmaref. The youth received emergency medical care and passed away because of the injuries. Initial investigation indicates the shooting was the result of an accidental discharge of a firearm. The incident is under investigation. Next of kin notified.
According to Wikipedia, Shishmaref “is located on Sarichef Island in the Chukchi Sea, just north of the Bering Strait and five miles from the mainland. … The population was 563 at the 2010 census, up from 562 in 2000.”
“The effect of global climate change upon Shishmaref is sometimes seen as the most dramatic in the world. Rising temperatures have resulted in a reduction in the sea ice which serves to buffer Shishmaref from storm surges. At the same time, the permafrost that the village is built on has also begun to melt, making the shore even more vulnerable to erosion. In recent years the shore has been receding at an average rate of up to 10 feet (3.3 m) per year.”
Sources:
“Daily Dispatch AK20058854,” Alaska Department of Public Safety, (August 24, 2020).
“Shishmareff 12-Year-Old Dies from Accidental Discharge of a Firearm Saturday,” Alaska Native News (August 25, 2020).
Wikipedia Entry on Shishmaref, Alaska (last viewed September 30, 2020).