Oregon Boy, 3, Dies After Finding a Gun, Accidental Shooting Himself

No charges were filed in Oregon after a toddler fatally shot himself in the head on Friday night with a handgun he found in an unlocked drawer.

In a statement on the deadly shooting, the Washington County Sheriff's Office reported the first 911 call to Little James Kenneth Lindquester shortly after 10 p.m.

"Family members of 3-year-old James Kenneth Lindquester called 911 to report James had gotten a handgun out of a bedroom end table drawer" in an Aloha home, "and shot himself in the head," reads the statement.

Authorities and EMS technicians rushed to the house and "took over life-saving efforts from the family."

An ambulance raced James to an area hospital "where he was pronounced deceased just before midnight," according to the statement.

Detectives are investigating the shooting, states the statement.

Relatives declined to speak to KATU over the weekend.

The station spoke to Deputy Shannon Wilde of Washington County Sheriff, who said it was a tough scene for the first responders.

"The death of a child is the absolute worst call that we go to," Wilde said. "It's tough, a lot of us are parents ourselves. I know some of the responders on scene last night have children, some have children the same age as this little boy and it's tough. We see a lot of horrible things but seeing a child in that situation is the worst."

According to the Firearm Industry industry association, weapons can only be loaded when they are about to be used in the field, in the target range or in the firing zone. Owners are advised to take caution when taking them home.

"Unload your gun immediately when you have finished shooting, well before you bring it into a car, camp or home," the site reads. "When not in use, firearms and ammunition should be secured in a safe place, separate from each other."

"It is your responsibility to prevent children and unauthorized adults from gaining access to firearms or ammunition," the site notes.