No charges in death of 3-year-old northern Indiana boy

ELKHART, Ind. (AP) – A northern Indiana prosecutor said he doesn’t plan to file charges against the parents of a 3-year-old boy who shot himself in November because of the tremendous loss they already suffered.

Police said Jeremiah Ross died at a South Bend hospital after shooting himself in his home Nov. 20. The Elkhart Truth reports Jeremiah’s mother told police she left the boy in the master bedroom briefly and heard a popping sound. She found Jeremiah with a wound to his head and a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun lying on the bed. Police said Jeremiah’s father legally purchased and owned the weapon.

Prosecutor Curtis Hill Jr. said Jeremiah’s death should remind people of the need to properly store weapons to keep children safe.