Boy, 7, Shoots And Kills Himself In Englewood
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Police were investigating how a 7-year-old boy got hold of a gun, and then shot and killed himself inside his Englewood home on Sunday.
Devon Lofton, 7, was taken to Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago, after suffering a gunshot wound to the head around 3:45 p.m. Sunday in the 6700 block of South Aberdeen Street.
Relatives showed up to the hospital Sunday, hoping he would survive, but soon found out he did not make it. Police told the family Devon accidentally shot himself.
"We're sad about it. We loved him. He had just graduated kindergarten last year," said neighbor Claudia Harris.
According to Harris, around 3:45 p.m. Sunday, one of Devon's brothers ran into her house, asking for help.
"He came through the kitchen door, 'Claudia, call the police. Call the paramedics. DV been shot,' and I called," Harris said.
It was unclear if any adults were at home with Devon at the time, or how he got hold of the gun.
Community activist Andrew Holmes said Devon's family told him the boy was playing with another child when he mistook a real gun for a toy gun.
"You can't blame this child. You can only blame and let the chips fall where it lay: who owns that gun, or who's responsible for having that weapon. And soon that may come out later on with the Chicago Police Department investigation," he said.
Ald. Toni Foulkes (15th) said police were trying to determine if the children were home alone.
"Apparently somebody wasn't watching them, because if they were supervising, we wouldn't be out here," Foulkes said. "Unfortunately, guns shouldn't be in the house; and if they have them in the house, especially with concealed carry, they need to be locked up."
Sources said police were trying to lift fingerprints from the gun to track down the owner.
While police continued to investigate, neighbors focused on remembering Devon, and helping his family cope with their loss.
"It's heartbreaking and sad, but he will be missed and he will be loved," neighbor Bernard Warfield said.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office said an autopsy was scheduled for Monday.