An 11-year-old boy in California died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds while he was attending a Zoom class, according to multiple reports.
Adan Llanos was attending a remote-learning class at Woodbridge Elementary School in Lodi, California, when he shot himself on Wednesday morning, according to CBS Sacramento.
Both his video and audio were on mute at this time. His sister, who was attending her own remote-learning class in the next room, found him in his room and sought help. She asked her teacher to call 911, who immediately ended the class and called for help, according to the Lodi News-Sentinel.
It’s not clear if his parents were home at this time, but his parents were reportedly by him when he was taken to the hospital after authorities arrived. The Daily Dot has reached out to the family and will update the report if they respond.
When the police arrived, they found Llanos with injuries to his head.
Although the incident was initially being considered a case of suicide, his parents have since said he shot himself by accident. This was further confirmed by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the News-Sentinel reported on Wednesday evening.
The Lodi Unified School District issued a statement on Facebook expressing condolences for the family and support for the community.
Initially, when it was being considered a case of suicide, Paul Warren, the special education director for the School District, told CBS Sacramento that it was “tragic.”
“Sometimes we go through things that are temporary emotional experiences and with the support of family and other trained people we can get through those things,” Warren said.
On Thursday, Llanos’ aunt Alejandra Salazar Carrillo started a GoFundMe fundraiser in his honor.
“We ask of you all to please refrain from any speculation and if you see any comments politely ask them to only say positive things,” reads the description. “His parents are going through something no parent should have to endure.”
By Friday afternoon, campaign had raised more than $25,000, surpassing its targeted $10,000.
According to research by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 1.7 million children live in homes with unlocked, loaded guns across the country. The report further claims that the majority of accidental deaths of children from gun violence are either self-inflicted or through another child.
Since the pandemic and ensuing lockdown, gun violence has spiked in the country, with the highest number of mass shootings recorded in May in any month since 2013, according to an NBC record of mass shootings. There was also an increase in firearm purchase during this time.
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H/T TMZ