The Brief A 3-year-old boy died four days before his 4th birthday after he grabbed his dad's gun and shot himself in the drive-thru of a Florida fast food restaurant. Authorities said it happened when the child's father was trying to pay for dinner. As the father bent over to check his card, he removed a Glock handgun from his waistband and placed it on the vehicle seat.



A 3-year-old boy died Thursday evening after he grabbed his dad's gun and shot himself in the drive-thru of a Florida fast food restaurant.

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, it happened at a Burger King in Bartow, about 45 minutes east of Tampa. The child was turning 4 in four days.

 Pray for this family'

What we know:

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said it happened in the drive-thru when the child's father was trying to pay for dinner. His credit card had been declined and he was distracted trying to find another form of payment. As he bent over to check his card, he removed a Glock handgun from his waistband and placed it on the vehicle seat, Judd said.

The 3-year-old, who was in the backseat, grabbed the gun and pulled the trigger, deputies said.

(Polk County Sheriff's Office)

The boy's father said he heard a loud pop before frantically running around the vehicle, while a bystander called 911. First responders took the child to a local hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at 7:30 p.m.

What they're saying:

 If you pray, pray for this family,  Judd said.  My officers are having a tough time with this one. They're in the middle right now of a debrief; they're struggling,  he said.

 This is an absolute tragedy. There is going to be a family without a son tonight, without a nephew, without a cousin. There's going to be a mom and dad that are going to try and pick up the shambles of this horrific event, and in the end, the community itself is hurting. Any death is tragic. A kid who is about to turn 4 is almost unconscionable to me,  said Bartow Deputy Chief Kyle Dowdy.  We are grieving with the family. 

Will charges be filed?

What we don't know:

It's unclear whether charges will be filed i
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