WILSON, N.C. (AP) - Wilson police say a 3-year-old boy has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound that appears to be accidental.
Police Sgt. John Slaughter said the boy died Saturday.
Slaughter says the child's legal guardian is Wilson County sheriff's Deputy Marcus Ruffin. Slaughter says the gun the boy had was Ruffin's personal weapon, not his service weapon. It was not clear whether Ruffin was related to the child other than being his legal guardian.
Slaughter said the results of the investigation will be sent to the district attorney's office to decide on charges. It is a crime in North Carolina to leave a gun unattended where a child or another person can access it.
A phone message left for the Wilson County sheriff's office was not immediately returned Sunday.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
