JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said a 2-year-old boy has died a week after he was accidentally shot on the morning of March 23. Officials said the boy was handling the gun when it went off.
The child was initially taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center on March 23, according to Sheriff Jeff Coffey. He said the boy was in critical condition but was stable as of 3:25 p.m. after getting out of surgery.
On March 29, Coffey said the child had been moved to East Tennessee Children's Hospital. By Wednesday morning, Coffey said the boy, identified as Colton Gridley, passed away in the hospital.
Coffey said the investigation into the events leading up to the shooting continues and will be turned over to the DA for review when it's completed.
He said family members were at the home when the gun fired, and one of them saw the child handling the gun. He said nobody had been detained.
“If you’re a gun owner, you’ve got to be responsible. You’ve got to put your weapons in a safe place," Coffey said. "Were not using good judgment if a 2-year-old can get in possession of a handgun and it discharges.”
The JCSO called the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for help investigating the case, with Coffey saying it was because they have a good working relationship on similar kinds of incidents.
Jefferson County 911 got a call about a shooting around 8:41 a.m. on English Drive in Talbott, according to officials. JCSO said deputies and Jefferson City Police Department officers responded and found a 2-year-old boy who had been shot.
JCSO said detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division and agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are on still on the scene. Officials said the investigation is ongoing but "there is no existing threat to the public."
"We ask everyone to keep this child and family in your prayers," the JCSO said.
You can watch authorities speak about the incident below.
