AUBURNDALE, Fla. – A 4-year-old died from a gunshot wound Friday evening, the Auburndale Police Department said.
Police said they responded to the 100 block of Lakeside Hills Loop in Auburndale around 10 p.m.
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Officers said they were originally told that a 4-year-old boy had hit his head on a table and was badly injured. Upon their arrival, officers and arriving emergency medical responders found the boy, Avion Weaver, with a gunshot wound to his cheek.
Weaver was transported to Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Officials said the investigation revealed that Weaver was in his family's apartment apparently watching television alone while his mother's boyfriend, Demeko Robinson, 26, was outside in the parking lot with friends.
Shortly after 10 p.m., Robinson went into the apartment and found Weaver heavily bleeding, police said. Neighbors reported hearing what they thought sounded like a gunshot around the same time.
"It is apparent that Avion found Robinson’s loaded pistol and while handling it, he accidentally shot himself in the face," Auburndale police said.
The Polk County Emergency Communications Center received a call from Robinson at 10:09 p.m., during which he requested an ambulance, officials said.
During the investigation, police said a 9mm semi-automatic pistol belonging to Robinson was recovered from outside the apartment.
Police said Weaver's mother, Deja Perry, was not home at the time of the shooting, but returned minutes after Robinson called police and immediately before the arrival of the first police officer.
Auburndale detectives have been in close contact with the state attorney’s office regarding this case and charges are potentially pending a review of the case once it is completed.
Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates on this developing story.