INDIANAPOLIS — A child was killed Wednesday in an accidental shooting on the east side, police said.
The male toddler was injured in the shooting shortly before midnight Tuesday in the 3700 block of North Dearborn Street, said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer William Young.
Investigators believe the shooting was an accident, Young said. The child, identified as 2-year-old Jarel Miles, was hospitalized in critical condition and later pronounced dead by medical personnel.
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey says Jarel got a hold of a gun that belonged to one of his parents, or someone in the house.
"We have to be better as parents, we have to be better as gun owners," Chief Bailey said. "If we're going to harness the incredible power that a gun has, then we have to be responsible with it."
Police did not release details regarding the type of gun or where the gun was located in the house.
Young said the case remains under investigation.
Contact WRTV reporter Vic Ryckaert at victor.ryckaert@wrtv.com or on X/Twitter: @vicryc.
