The police investigation into the fatal shooting of an 8-year-old by his father in their Canton Township home has been sent to the office of the Wayne County Prosecutor, according to police reports.
Police have taken the father into custody in what has been described as an accidental shooting that took place while he was cleaning a gun in the home. The child, Jack Bennett, was a student in the Wayne Westland School District.
Officers were called to a home on Old Michigan Avenue near Haggerty at about 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, according to police reports. The wounded child was rushed to an area hospital by emergency responders but died the same day.
“It is with much sadness that we report the 8-year old boy succumbed to his injuries yesterday,” Deputy Police Chief Craig Wilsher said in a statement. “An individual is in custody, and we expect to turn our investigation over to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office later today.”
The child's mother told reporters that the shooting was a “freak accident” and that the gun was supposed to be unloaded. She said her husband was doing usual maintenance cleaning on the firearm. The gun fired one round which struck the child.
Counselors were called to the boy’s elementary school last Wednesday to help students and staff members with the news.
At last report, the boy's father remained in police custody awaiting a determination on charges from the prosecutor's office.
