3-year-old accidentally shoots, kills 19-year-old man in his sleep, authorities say

ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) – A 3-year-old shot and killed a 19-year-old at a home near Atlanta in what officials are calling a tragic – but preventable – accident.

According to the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting happened around 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Deputies responded to a home on Eagles Nest Drive in Hiram, Georgia, about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta.

Investigators said on Sunday night, the 19-year-old victim came to visit family at the house and brought the gun. Police said they believe he set the gun down somewhere when he went to sleep, and it wasn’t safely secured.

Monday morning, the toddler woke up while the rest of the people in the house were still asleep.

Officials said the child got hold of the gun and accidentally shot the 19-year-old while he was asleep.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies tried to save his life, but the man died at the scene. He was identified as Kabrel Patterson.

Investigators said the toddler and Patterson were not related, but there were about 10 people in the home at the time.

Jordan Youdis, Paulding County Sheriff’s Office chief communications officer, called the situation “unfortunate.”

“He [the toddler] has no recollection of what he did, or the consequences that are life-altering because of it. It’s one of the more unfortunate things we have to deal in our line of work is accidents like this,” Youdis said.

Officials said this tragedy is a grim reminder of gun safety and storage.

“Have the proper place to store your firearm and have a lock on it. And, of course, it goes without saying, keep your guns away from children,” Youdis said. “Even if you think, ‘I’ve talked to my child about the importance of gun safety, they are in a safe,’ all these types of things. These things happen time and time again across the country that are so easily preventable.”

The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office said at this time, no one is being criminally charged. The investigation is ongoing.