PAULDING COUNTY, GA — The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a 19-year-old was accidentally shot and killed by a 3-year-old at a home in the Hiram area on Monday.

Around 7 a.m., authorities responded to a person shot call at 63 Eagles Nest Dr.

Deputies found the teenager who had been shot and immediately started life-saving efforts until Fire and EMS arrived, but he succumbed to his injuries.

After detectives spoke with several people in the home who were sleeping at the time of the shooting, they say “it appears that a three-year-old child found a gun and accidentally fired it, hitting the young man while he was asleep.”

“This is a heartbreaking situation for everyone involved. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident,” Paulding County Sheriff Ashley Henson said.

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