PARMA, Ohio -- A 3-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself Thursday afternoon was visiting his grandparents in Parma when he found his father's gun in the center console of a van in the driveway, police say.

Christian Hein, who was identified by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office Friday, was leaving his grandparents house with his father when the incident happened in the van in the driveway of the home on Brownfield Road near Ridge Road, Parma police Capt. Kevin Riley said.

Hein was in the car while his father was outside of the car saying goodbye to his parents. Police believe the boy got out of his car seat, found the gun in the center console and pulled the trigger, Riley said.

Hein was found with a single gunshot wound to his head, police said. The child was taken to MetroHealth where he was pronounced dead. Police announced his death more than two hours after the initial report.

Family members who were at the home are cooperating with investigators. Police say the father has his concealed carry permit.

Although no one can understand the family's pain in the loss of a child, Parma police officers are also affected about the incident.

"This really really affected our officers here," Riley said. "You can't match the pain of the family, but this really did affect them.

"The police officers that were there that responded to the scene were shook up from what they saw and they had to speak with department counselors. It's every parent's worst nightmare."

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