PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Portsmouth Police say the fatal shooting of a 3-year-old boy appears to be an accidental discharge.
Police said they received the call Monday at 4:33 p.m. near the 2500 block of Ash Street.
Portsmouth police confirmed with 10 On Your Side Tuesday morning that the 3-year-old died due to a gunshot wound. Police say the boy was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injury.
In an update from Thursday, police say the shooting appears to be an accidental discharge and that they have arrested 20-year-old Jaquan Askew in connection to the handling of the gun.
Askew is charged with allowing access to firearm by children.
A neighbor says she heard the sound of gunshots.
“We heard the pop sound of the gunshot,” Tomeka Lathan said.
Lathan said she heard someone yelling for help.
“My daughter [was] instantly like ‘You need help? Do you need help?’ You know, so whoever someone was saying yes, yes please or whatever,” she said.
Lathan later heard a 3-year-old boy was shot.
“It’s a child. What’s going on? These guns are just doing too much. I don’t know. There is just too much going on,” she said.
Portsmouth Police Department is having a R.E.S.E.T. Walk on April 6, at 3:30 p.m. on the 2500 block of Ash Street in response to this shooting.
Check with WAVY.com for updates.
