A 14-year-old rural Aitkin boy has died from injuries suffered in what is believed to have been an accidental shooting late Sunday.

The Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office reported that Dawson Vanportfliet was shot in the neck with a .40-caliber Sig Sauer pistol Sunday evening in his home outside the city of Aitkin. The shooting happened while his father, 37-year old Dennis Vanportfliet, was handling the gun in what authorities said is believed to have been an unintentional, accidental discharge.

Dawson was taken by ambulance to Riverwood Health Care Center in Aitkin and then by North Memorial Air Care to Hennepin County Medical Center. He was pronounced dead Thursday, the sheriff's office reported Friday morning.

The incident remains under investigation by the sheriff's office and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Dawson was an eighth-grader at Aitkin High School. He was a Boy Scout with Troop 52 in Aitkin and was involved in martial arts. He is survived by his parents and a sister.

Although classes are no longer in session, the school offered counseling to students, staff and families through Northern Pines Mental Health Center.

“We have heavy hearts right now,” Aitkin Superintendent Bernie Novak said. “We are praying for the family. The whole community is grieving. A lot of people showed up to support the family at a candlelight vigil earlier this week. The school is grieving with the family and we are here to support them.”

A fund has been set up for Dawson's family at Members Cooperative Credit Union in Aitkin. It is listed as “Dawson Benefit Fund,” and people can donate to any MCCU location. People also can make a donation to the family by going to an online GoFundMe fundraiser here: bit.ly/1BQ3iXn for more information.

The Brainerd Dispatch contributed to this report.