New Haven Boy, 8, Victim Of Fatal, 'Accidental' Shooting Sunday: NHPD

NEW HAVEN, CT — Just before 11 p.m. Sunday night, called to a local address, police found an 8-year-old boy "lying on the kitchen floor with an apparent gunshot wound," New Haven police spokesperson Christian Bruckhart.

The boy was rushed to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he was pronounced deceased, Bruchart said.

According to Bruckhart, police determined the child was a resident of the house and was with other family members at the time. A firearm was also located, he said.

Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit responded and are working to determine the circumstances of the shooting, but, Bruckhart said, "It appears at this time to be accidental and there is no threat to the community stemming from this incident."

"While our detectives are actively investigating the sequence of events which led to losing an 8-year-old to a shooting, what is clear is that this was a tragic, preventable, and senseless death," said New Haven Chief of Police Karl Jacobson.

Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information valuable to investigators to call detectives at 203-946-6304 or through the department's anonymous tip-line at 866-888-TIPS (8477).