Florida toddler dies in accidental shooting at drive-thru

A three-year-old boy was fatally shot in the face after grabbing his father's handgun during a Burger King drive-thru transaction in Bartow, Florida. According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the incident occurred while the father was distracted by a declined credit card transaction.

The father, who holds a valid concealed carry permit, had removed a Glock pistol from his waistband and placed it on the vehicle seat while attempting to resolve the payment issue with his credit card company via phone. The child, who was days away from his fourth birthday, picked up the weapon and accidentally discharged it.

A bystander alerted emergency services, and the child was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. Authorities noted that the bullet also created a hole through the vehicle's roof. While state laws allow for felony charges in cases of culpable negligence involving children and firearms, officials indicated that prosecutors may not pursue charges based on the current evidence.