Detectives Investigating Saturday's Apparent Accidental Shooting Death of 8 Year Old

Youth Services detectives are investigating Saturday night's apparent accidental shooting death of Phillip'e Woodard, 8, inside a home on North 2nd Street. The preliminary investigation indicates Woodard, his 10-year-old brother and a 16-year-old family friend were left alone at Woodard's grandmother's home when Woodard reportedly began playing with a loaded shotgun.

The 16-year-old reported being asleep when the gunshot went off and he ran to a neighbor for help.

Woodard was transported to Vanderbilt Pediatrics where he died.

The investigation is ongoing and will be staffed with the District Attorney's Office upon completion.

This is the third accidental child death from a firearm so far this year. The MNPD would like to remind gun owners that FREE gunlocks are available at MNPD Headquarters, all eight precincts and the Records Division public counter in Madison.