The community of Montgomery Village is grappling with the tragic loss of a young life following the accidental shooting of a six-year-old boy. The Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division confirmed that they are looking into the circumstances leading up to the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Responding to a 9-1-1 call, officers from the 6th District and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene in the 10100 block of Maple Leaf Drive around 2:45 p.m. There, they discovered Lascelle Lee IV with a wound that was reportedly self-inflicted, according to officials. Despite life-saving attempts by the first responders, the boy was pronounced dead in the townhome.
The preliminary investigation has pointed towards the firearm, a legally registered handgun, being involved in the unwitnessed, accidental discharge. At the time of the shooting, the child was in the presence of one adult who made the call to emergency services.
No suspicions of foul play have been raised in this case, as stated by the authorities. As the investigation continues, further details regarding how the child gained access to the handgun or what measures were in place to secure it remain to be seen. The community is now left mourning, contemplating the stark reality of firearms in homes and the dire necessity of stringent measures to prevent such heart-wrenching accidents.
