On Sunday, June 12, a two-year-old child accidentally shot themselves after gaining access to an unsecured firearm, according to authorities.

The Howell Police Department, in a statement, said the initial report indicated that the child had managed to reach the unsecured firearm, resulting in the tragic accidental shooting.

The child was promptly rushed to a nearby hospital, but unfortunately was pronounced dead. The investigation into the incident is currently ongoing, and no further details have been released, including whether a caregiver was present at the time of the accident.

This distressing incident occurred less than two months after Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a new set of bills into law. This legislation mandates background checks for all firearm purchases in the state and requires gun owners to store firearms and ammunition safely.

Speaking on the matter, Governor Whitmer stressed the urgency of addressing gun violence, stating that it’s not a new issue in the country and people should not have to live with such a threat.

Statistics from Everytown for Gun Safety reveal that about 4.6 million children live in homes where there is at least one firearm which is loaded and unlocked. Alarmingly, nearly every day, a child gains access to a loaded firearm and unintentionally injures or kills themselves or someone else. This results in an average of 350 children being affected annually, as reported by the nonprofit organization.

As the investigation continues, authorities are striving to gather more information to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.