Merrillville boy dies from gunshot after taking gun from parents' bedroom

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (WLS) -- Merrillville police have identified the 4-year-old boy who died after suffering a gunshot wound to the head this morning as Cash Irby, Jr. He allegedly took a gun, kept in the home for protection, from his parents' bedroom closet.

Merrillville police arrived at the home in the 6400 block of Cleveland Street and found the boy unresponsive, police said. He was then transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The gun was stored out of the way but unsecured, police said. According to the victim's cousin, Kelly White-Gibson, the family is unsure how he found the gun.

"They always kepit it up in the closet behind shoes and clothes and boxes," White-Gisbon said, "so we're not sure how he ever saw it."

Police said the child allegedly took the gun and went back into his room, where the gun went off, striking him in the head. Both parents were tending to other children, ages four and one, at the time. Police are still investigating the incident.