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2-year-old killed in Lawrence shooting

lawrence 2 year old shot, killed
Posted at 1:52 PM, Sep 17, 2021
and last updated 2021-09-17 20:39:45-04

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Police say a shooting that took the life of a toddler in Douglas County was accidental.

The gun went off at a house in East Lawrence on the 1500 block of Wedgewood Drive.

Lawrence police received the call of a 2-year-old shot around 10:45 a.m.

Loved ones tried to give the toddler, who was shot in the chest, CPR before the ambulance arrived.

Paramedics transported the boy to Lawrence Memorial Hospital where police say he died.

Neighbors are heartbroken to hear about the boy's death.

"I've seen him in the last couple of days, of course, they were here visiting from Texas, so you know there's always child activity over there," said Beth Mole, neighbor.

Police are classifying this as an accidental shooting early in their investigation.

​"It's just horrible — so important to have gun locks and gun safes for your children when they are in the home whether they belong to you or not," Mole said. "If you know children are coming to your home on a daily basis, they need to lock them up."

For jurisdictions that utilize the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline, anonymous tips can be made by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com.

Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.