Child dies while playing with gun

A four-year-old child in the Bogue Chitto Community playing with a gun has died.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians released a statement confirming the incident on Sunday and said the Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the investigation.

The child received the fatal gunshot wound at home and was pronounced dead at Neshoba General after being driven there by a private vehicle, the authorities said.

The statement released on Monday by Misty Brescia, director of the Office of Public Information for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, said: “Yesterday our Choctaw community experienced the very unfortunate loss of life of a young child. We extend our prayers and heartfelt condolences to the family during this difficult time.

“Choctaw Police & the FBI are investigating this incident. As this is an active investigation, we are unable to provide any details.”

Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark said he believed the child was four years old. He said his office learned before turning the investigation over to Choctaw Police that the gunshot wound was likely a self-inflicted accident after the child found a handgun under a pillow in a bedroom.

Philadelphia Police Chief Eric Lyons said his officers encountered a speeding vehicle at about 2:15 p.m. on Holland Avenue on Sunday. 

He said a PPD officer observed the speeding car and attempted to stop it. But the vehicle did not stop until reaching Neshoba General where the officer discovered there was a child inside suffering from a gunshot wound. 

“No charges are expected in this incident from the Police Department,” Lyons said. 

He noted his office learned after the fact that the shooting occurred in the Bogue Chitto community on Tribal land.