Michael Bayless, Indiana man, shot and killed by 3-year-old who finds his gun
A three-year-old Indiana boy killed his father after finding his loaded handgun and accidentally shooting him.
Police say Michael A Bayless, age 33, was watching TV with two of his three children when the three-year-old discovered the pistol on Friday night.
When emergency crews arrived at the house in Salem, Indiana, Mr Bayless was already dead, having passed away in front of his family.
“He picked up the gun and it discharged, striking the deceased victim,” Indiana State Police Sgt. Jerry Goodin told RTV6’s Ebone Monet.
The Bayless family lives in nearby Martinsville, but was in Salem, working on their property.
“They’re a great family. I mean, they all loved each other,” said James Cleveland, a Martinsville neighbor of the Bayless family. “It’s a bad tragedy. He was carrying the gun for his personal safety.”
“I think it’s crazy,” said neighbor Doug Kirkohoff. “I think it’s irresponsible, for one. We have firearms, but (our son) doesn’t even know where they’re at, and they’re definitely not loaded. We have gun locks. It’s definitely a tragedy.”
Goodin said the case remains under investigation, but Washington County’s prosecutors will determine if charges are warranted.
This map shows the incorporated and unincorporated areas in Washington County, Indiana, highlighting Salem in red. It was created with a custom script with US Census Bureau data and modified with Inkscape. Map/Arkyan
