2-Year-old tells mom: ‘I hurt my dad' after fatally shooting father
REPORT - Divine Vaniah Chambliss was watching his 2-year-old son in his Alabama home when detectives say he decided to take a nap. While he was asleep, his son discovered his gun and accidentally shot and killed Chambliss.
Divine Vaniah Chambliss was watching his 2-year-old son in his Alabama home when detectives say he decided to take a nap. While he was asleep, his son discovered his gun and accidentally shot and killed Chambliss.
Chambliss’ wife returned home to find her husband unresponsive in the bed, and the 2-year-old told her, “I hurt my dad.” She called 911, but emergency responders discovered that Chambliss had suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, and he was pronounced dead on the scene.
“Detectives have considered every possible scenario in an attempt to determine who shot the victim,” Hoover police said in a statement posted on Facebook Wednesday.
“There is still no indication that an intruder or any third person was involved in this incident. Physical evidence has also helped us determine that the victim could not have shot himself,” the statement read. “All indications at this point still lead us to believe the child found the loaded handgun and accidentally shot his father.”
According to his family, Chambliss worked security at the church but always carried the gun in the holster and kept the safety on. Police say it was likely that the gun was tucked under the pillow and that was how the child found it.
“Detectives have left no stone unturned in their efforts to determine exactly what happened in this case. There’s never a good scenario when it involves a tragic death, but it appears that this case may represent the unthinkable,” Hoover Police Capt. Gregg Rector told AL.com.
“It’s just an absolute horrible tragedy. Our hearts go out for Mr. Chambliss’ family and friends. They’re going through a rough time right now, and they need prayers and support,” he said.
