Six-year-old Kills Himself with Unsecured Gun Left in Car

Six-year-old Major Smith, shot and killed himself with an unsecured gun he got ahold of inside a car in Lakeland, Florida. He had returned home from shopping with his father and adult brother, and they all exited the vehicle. While his father was on the phone, Major went back into the car and retrieved a Glock 19X that was left between the driver’s seat and the center console. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head, and died in the hospital two days later.

From the GoFundMe page set up for the family, it said that Major “…was a loving son and big brother to his twin sisters. He recently spent the holidays with many of his family members from New York and Florida, who he met for the first time.”

No charges have been determined, as police continue to investigate.

Source:

Sara-Megan Walsh, “Lakeland 6-year-old Boy Dies of Self-inflicted Gunshot. LPD Says Investigation is Ongoing,”theledger.com (January 8, 2025).