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3-year-old dies in accidental shooting with dad's service gun
By Dorothy Korber and Chelsea Phua - [email protected]
Published 6:20 pm PDT Monday, April 7, 2008
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A 3-year-old boy - the son of a Sutter County sheriff's deputy - died at his Yuba County home Sunday night when he accidentally shot himself with his father's service handgun, according to police.
The boy, Tyler Whiteaker, is the child of Sgt. David Whiteaker, 33, an 11-year veteran of the Sutter County Sheriff's Department and himself the son of a retired deputy.
Emergency personnel arrived at the home at 9:14 p.m. Sunday, where they found that the child had suffered a fatal injury. An autopsy Monday determined that the boy died of a single gunshot wound to the head, according to Sutter County Sheriff J. Paul Parker.
Parker said the investigation into Tyler's death is being handled entirely by Yuba City police: "The sheriff's department has taken a hands-off stand - we don't want to overlap on their investigation."
It's not yet clear how the gun got into the child's hands, said Yuba City police spokeswoman Shawna Pavey.
She emphasized that Whiteaker's position in law enforcement will not impact the investigation.
"The father's role has no bearing at all on how our investigators approached this case," she said. "They handled it exactly as they would for any other gun owner."
Parker, who was sworn in as the county's new sheriff on Friday, said his close-knit department is reeling from the terrible news.
"We are stunned and in shock - we're offering up whatever moral support we can give the family," the sheriff said. "I've known David Whiteaker a long time - his father retired from here."
The tragedy has also affected everyone on the small Yuba City force, according to Pavey.
"Many of our officers knew Sgt. Whiteaker and had worked with him for years," Pavey said. "This is a very close community, and this will be in our hearts and minds forever. It's been the saddest day I can remember in our department."
No one answered the door at the Whiteaker's neat stucco home Monday afternoon. A child's wagon sat near the door.
Nearby, neighbor Richard Salado, 83, was mowing his law. He said the Whiteakers have another child, a 1-year-old boy, but Salado said he doesn't know the family well.
"It's unfortunate," the World War II Army veteran said. "Everybody loves their children, but when you play with guns you've got to be very careful."
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What a tragic story, my condolances to the family. I am putting this up, because it is a story that needs to be read by all IMHO...
Regards,
Gary
By Dorothy Korber and Chelsea Phua - [email protected]
Published 6:20 pm PDT Monday, April 7, 2008
Print | E-Mail | |
A 3-year-old boy - the son of a Sutter County sheriff's deputy - died at his Yuba County home Sunday night when he accidentally shot himself with his father's service handgun, according to police.
The boy, Tyler Whiteaker, is the child of Sgt. David Whiteaker, 33, an 11-year veteran of the Sutter County Sheriff's Department and himself the son of a retired deputy.
Emergency personnel arrived at the home at 9:14 p.m. Sunday, where they found that the child had suffered a fatal injury. An autopsy Monday determined that the boy died of a single gunshot wound to the head, according to Sutter County Sheriff J. Paul Parker.
Parker said the investigation into Tyler's death is being handled entirely by Yuba City police: "The sheriff's department has taken a hands-off stand - we don't want to overlap on their investigation."
It's not yet clear how the gun got into the child's hands, said Yuba City police spokeswoman Shawna Pavey.
She emphasized that Whiteaker's position in law enforcement will not impact the investigation.
"The father's role has no bearing at all on how our investigators approached this case," she said. "They handled it exactly as they would for any other gun owner."
Parker, who was sworn in as the county's new sheriff on Friday, said his close-knit department is reeling from the terrible news.
"We are stunned and in shock - we're offering up whatever moral support we can give the family," the sheriff said. "I've known David Whiteaker a long time - his father retired from here."
The tragedy has also affected everyone on the small Yuba City force, according to Pavey.
"Many of our officers knew Sgt. Whiteaker and had worked with him for years," Pavey said. "This is a very close community, and this will be in our hearts and minds forever. It's been the saddest day I can remember in our department."
No one answered the door at the Whiteaker's neat stucco home Monday afternoon. A child's wagon sat near the door.
Nearby, neighbor Richard Salado, 83, was mowing his law. He said the Whiteakers have another child, a 1-year-old boy, but Salado said he doesn't know the family well.
"It's unfortunate," the World War II Army veteran said. "Everybody loves their children, but when you play with guns you've got to be very careful."
**************
What a tragic story, my condolances to the family. I am putting this up, because it is a story that needs to be read by all IMHO...
Regards,
Gary
