BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — Investigators are trying to determine the state of mind of a 9-year-old before he shot himself inside his home. He later died.
Grief counselors in Barrow County met with students throughout the day Thursday at Yargo Elementary, to help them comes to terms with the death of a classmate.
The third grader shot himself in his home after he got off the bus Wednesday. His parents, and a sibling were there, but didn't see it happen.
"The school is very traumatized, the teacher is very traumatized. (The principal) describes him as a very sweet young man, very smart," Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith told Channel 2's Tom Regan.
Around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, investigators and paramedics responded to an emergency call at a home on Avalon Court in Winder. Inside, they found the little boy with a gunshot wound.
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“We are not sure if it was an accident or self-inflicted," Smith said.
The sheriff said the hand gun was in a secure place, but somehow the child got hold of it. He was airlifted to a hospital in Atlanta, but died late Wednesday night.
“All of us have children. It's a tough thing to deal with,” Smith said.
Neighbors of the family, also expressing shock and sadness over the boys' death.
“I just can't fathom losing a child,” neighbor Susan Burton told Regan.
“He's in a better place. God. That's how I feel,” said neighbor Andrew Ceballos.
The sheriff said his investigators will try to deter main the boy’s state of mind before the shooting, and any evidence of possible bullying.
“We are still doing interviews of teachers, parents, kids, friends, kids down the street, trying to figure out how this happened,” Smith told Regan. “This mom and dad have to be preparing for a funeral. It's a tragic situation all the way around.”
The sheriff said it is unlikely any charges will be filed in this case.