A 2-year-old boy was shot and killed Sunday afternoon inside a home in Chicago's Pullman neighborhood, according to police, in a case that has left Far South Side residents reeling as detectives work to sort out what happened.
The child was rushed from the residence to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities said the gunshot wound is believed to have been self-inflicted, and a 31-year-old man was taken into custody at the scene. Detectives with the Chicago Police Department's Area Two bureau have opened an investigation.
Officers found the boy with a gunshot wound to the head and transported him to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, NBC Chicago reported. The outlet notes that police believe the injury was self-inflicted and that a 31-year-old man was detained inside the residence. Area Two detectives are leading the probe and have not released further details.
How police are investigating
The Chicago Police Department's Area Two unit covers the Far South Side, including Pullman and West Pullman. Anyone with information is asked to contact Area Two detectives at (312) 747-8273 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com, according to the Chicago Police Department. Detectives typically canvass nearby blocks for surveillance footage and witness accounts as they piece together a timeline.
So far, authorities have not released a motive or additional information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including how the child gained access to the firearm.
Echoes of earlier tragedies
The Pullman case echoes other heartbreaking incidents in which very young children on the Far South Side have been injured or killed by unsecured guns. In January 2024, a 2-year-old in nearby West Pullman died after what police called an apparent accidental shooting, a case that community leaders used to push for safer gun storage and broader public awareness, ABC7 Chicago reported.
Neighborhood impact
Residents in Pullman and West Pullman have been coping with a run of shootings this spring that has kept Area Two detectives busy and intensified calls for more resources, from increased patrols to anti-violence programs. Hoodline has documented several recent cases in which detectives were juggling multiple crime scenes in just a few days.
What comes next
Police have not said whether charges will be filed in connection with Sunday's shooting and released no additional details Sunday night, according to NBC Chicago. Anyone with information is urged to contact Area Two detectives at (312) 747-8273 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com, per the Chicago Police Department.
This story will be updated as authorities release more information.
