The shooting death of a 3-year-old boy who found his father's gun and shot himself was a "freak accident," the Paulding County Sheriff's Office said Friday.
Holston David Cole died April 26 after shooting himself in the chest inside his family’s Dallas-area home. On Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office said no criminal charges would be filed in the case.
Deputies consulted with the District Attorney’s Office in deciding not to file charges, Sgt. Ashley Henson said. The Sheriff’s Office could have charged Holston’s father with reckless conduct, a misdemeanor charge. But even with a conviction, the charge wouldn’t warrant a steep punishment, Henson said.
“Could they have been charged? Sure they could’ve,” Henson said. “But if you looked at all the circumstances they’re a good family, taking care of their kids, there weren’t any drugs or anything like that involved. It was truly a freak accident.”
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