Boy, 4, Fatally Shoots Himself in Orange: Police

ORANGE, VA — A 4-year-old fatally shot himself Monday at the home of a child care provider where a Stafford County Sheriff's Office recruit lives, on Mine Road, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. The report was confirmed by the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. The recruit wasn't at home when the shooting occurred, and the weapon was not a service weapon.

Around 12:45 p.m., police received a call about the incident. Police and rescue workers responded but attempts to revive the child were unsuccessful. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene. Police haven't yet revealed how the child came to possess the gun.

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The Stafford County Sheriff's Office said the recruit is enrolled at the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy. He began working for the police in December 2016 and entered the academy shortly thereafter. The Orange County Sheriff's Office said no further information will be released until the investigation is complete.

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