Mike Ellis, and Nikie Mayo

Anderson

STARR— A 3-year-old boy died Friday after shooting himself with a gun he found in a vehicle outside his home, Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore said.

The child was shot at a home on the 500 block of Agnew Road near Starr.

Kayleb Fletcher McMahan had been riding the lawnmower with his father Jonathan just before the shooting, Shore said. Shore said the Jonathan McMahan stopped the mower and was on the phone outside when he heard a gunshot inside the family's sport utility vehicle around 1 p.m.

Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride said the shooting appears to be accidental.

"Although this is still under investigation, everything points to this likely being an unfortunate accident," McBride said soon after the shooting. "We are praying hard for the little boy and his family."

Shore said Kayleb was taken by ambulance to AnMed Health Medical Center in hopes that doctors there could stabilize his condition. Kayleb died at the hospital just before 3 p.m.

Nikki Carson, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office, said no charges have been filed.

About a dozen deputies were at the scene soon after the shooting.

Crime tape surrounded the back of a home and also a dark-colored SUV in the backyard.

There were several toys in the yard, including a small bicycle.

"Incidents like this tragic event serve as a reminder ... of the importance of proper gun safety storage and usage," Carson said.

Neighbor Joyce Brock said Kayleb is the youngest of three children who live at the home. She said he played in the yard a lot and that she was praying for him.

The last time a child in Anderson County accidentally shot himself was July 2012.

In that case, 2-year-old Josiah Tate reached a nightstand and picked up the unsecured service pistol of then-deputy Jahwaun Blair, fatally shooting himself in the head. Blair, who was not charged, resigned from the Sheriff's Office and settled a civil suit brought against him by Josiah's family.

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