GRIFFIN, GA — A 5-year-old boy is dead after finding a gun inside a vehicle in Griffin, and the gun’s owner is now facing charges.

Police say 27-year-old Chase Desselle of Hampton was supposed to be watching his friend’s son when he left the boy alone in his truck while going into a storage unit on Carver Road. Investigators say the child found an unsecured firearm in the vehicle and accidentally shot himself in the head. Despite first responders’ efforts, the boy did not survive.

Desselle was arrested and is being held without bond on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct.

Griffin Police Detective Richard Powell stressed the importance of keeping weapons out of children’s reach. “Being able to keep the weapon secure and safe, and if it’s not directly in your control, you know having it secured in the most appropriate manner,” Powell said, urging the use of gun locks and safes.

Calling the tragedy “very preventable,” Powell noted that safe storage practices can save lives. The case remains under investigation.

WSB’s Steve Summers contributed to this story