3-year-old boy dies in accidental shooting at Bartow Burger King

A 3-year-old boy died after accidentally shooting himself inside a vehicle at a Burger King in Bartow, Polk County, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office and FOX 35 Orlando.

The incident occurred Thursday evening when the boy, who was playing in the backseat, grabbed a handgun that his father had placed on the vehicle seat while checking his credit card, Sheriff Grady Judd said.

The father had been distracted after his credit card was declined while attempting to buy dinner at the drive-thru. The child shot himself in the face, and first responders transported him to Lakeland Regional Health, where he was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m.

Sheriff Judd described the event as a "horrible tragedy". The boy was about to turn four years old in four days. The Sheriff's Office is assisting the Bartow Police Department with the investigation.

Detectives are transferring the case information to the State Attorney's Office to evaluate potential charges under a culpable negligence statute that could apply, though no immediate criminal prosecution is expected, according to Sheriff Judd.