ANDERSON, S.C. (AP) - The family of a South Carolina 2-year-old boy who shot himself to death with a deputy's gun is suing the Anderson County Sheriff's Department.
The Anderson Independent-Mail reports Saturday that the grandmother of Josiah Tate is accusing the department and former deputy Jahwaun Blair of negligence and recklessness.
The boy shot himself in the head with a .38-caliber handgun on July 3 in the bedroom of a home he and his mother shared with Blair.
The coroner ruled the death an accident, saying Blair had come home, took off his gun and left to run errands. While he was out, the boy and his mother returned, and the child picked up the gun and fired.
Blair resigned from the force this month. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating.
