Toddler, 2, dies after accidentally shooting himself in the chest when he was left alone in the car at a Walmart parking lot while his parents shopped
- Nakyzi Odums, 2, accidentally shot himself in the chest on July 3 & died Saturday
A two-year-old Georgia boy has died after accidentally shooting himself in a Walmart parking lot while his parents shopped for fireworks, it has emerged.
Nakyzi Odums was alone in a vehicle parked at the superstore in Douglas on July 3 as his parents shopped at a stand selling pyrotechnics just feet away, witnesses told WALB.
Bystanders recalled hearing a gunshot before seeing his parents, identified by family as Sam Odums and Laileighauna Parks, dashed back to the car and discovered their son had shot himself in the chest.
The toddler was rushed to a local hospital before being transferred to a trauma center in Jacksonville, Florida, where police say he died on Saturday afternoon.
Officers have launched an investigation into Nakyzi's death and are working to determine how he got ahold of the gun.
Nakyzi Odums, 2, (center) died in a hospital on Saturday after having accidentally shot himself in the chest in a Walmart parking lot on July 3. The toddler is pictured his parents Sam Odums (left) and Laileighauna Parks (right)
Nakyzi Odums was alone in a vehicle parked at the superstore in Douglas on July 3 as his parents shopped at a stand selling pyrotechnics (pictured) that was located just feet away
Witnesses said Nakyzi had been sitting in the front seat of the car while his parents shopped at the fireworks stand.
It is suspected that the gun may have been in the side of the car door when he found it, the TV station reported.
The Douglas Police Department confirmed his death in a Facebook post on Saturday, issuing their condolences to his loves ones.
'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time,' the department wrote.
'Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.'
It is unclear if Odums or Parks will face charges in the incident and Douglas Police Department told DailyMail.com there is no update to the case at this time.
Several other cases in which a Georgia child has accidentally shot themself have resulted in charges against the parents, including for 'reckless conduct' and 'child cruelty'.
Georgia law also generally allows anyone who is a 'lawful weapons carrier' to carry a loaded gun in their vehicle.
But Douglas Police Chief Brannen Pruette says that weapon holders should take precautions to keep children safe.
Pruette previously told WALB: 'You're allowed to have a gun in the car, but when there's a child involved, you need to make sure that the gun is secure so that the child doesn't have access to it.'
It is illegal for an adult to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly provide a minor with a firearm, except in specific situations such as a hunting with a valid license; attending a hunter education course or a firearms safety course; engaging in competition that uses weapons; or for use on their parent or grandparents' property, with consent of their legal guardian.
However, state law does not otherwise expressly make it illegal for an adult to 'negligently or recklessly' leave unsecured guns in a place that is accessible to unsupervised minors.
Bystanders recalled hearing a gunshot before seeing his parents dash back to the car and discover that Nakyzi had shot himself. Pictured is the parking lot of the Walmart Supercenter in Douglas, Georgia
Nakyzi's grandmother has created a GoFundMe page to help the toddler's parents pay for his burial.
'It is with great sadness that we inform you of the loss of our beautiful Nakyzi Odums,' the crowdfunder reads.
'He was definitely the light and love for his parents Sam Odums and Laileighauna Parks. He smiled brightly, laughed wholeheartedly, loved unconditionally'.
The funds will also be used to 'allow [his] mom and dad time to grieve properly'.
