6-year-old may have been playing with gun that killed him
A 6-year-old shot in his apartment Monday night may have been playing with the gun that killed him, police said.
Fort Valley police Capt. Jerrell Smith said the gun belonged to the child’s mother, who used it for protection.
Two sisters, ages 10 and 13, were also in the Indian Oaks apartment when Fiya Hollis was shot just before 8 p.m.
Fiya was in kindergarten at Hunt Elementary School.
The child’s mother was not home at the time, Smith said.
Parents and homeowners “need to make sure to put their guns away, lock them up, make sure they use gun locks and keep them out of reach of children,” Smith said.
The Department of Family and Children Services also was investigating, which is protocol in child deaths, authorities.
The GBI provided assistance with the crime scene investigation, said J.T. Ricketson, special agent in charge of the GBI’s Perry office.
Fort Valley police detectives interviewed the boy’s relatives and others about the shooting.
Evidence will later be turned over to the district attorney’s office to determine whether charges will be filed.
Staff writer Becky Purser contributed to this article.
Liz Fabian: 478-744-4303, @liz_lines
This story was originally published February 7, 2017 at 9:32 AM with the headline "6-year-old may have been playing with gun that killed him."