Preschool-age child killed by gunshot in Monett was accident, police say

Police say the death of a preschool-age child from a gunshot wound early Tuesday in Monett was an accident.

Monett Police Chief George Daoud said officers were dispatched to a home in the 500 block of Pleasant Street at 6:06 a.m. for "an unattended death" of a child who lived at the residence.

According to a news release from the Monett Police Department, 3-year-old Anthony Latorre Jr. suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The incident was investigated by Monett police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Daoud said the investigation showed the victim woke up, went to the garage and was playing in the family car.

The child found a semi-automatic pistol that was in the car and accidentally discharged the weapon, the release said.

Barry County Coroner Jim Fohn arrived and transported the child to Springfield for an autopsy. The investigation is ongoing, pending results of the autopsy.

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