Child, 4, Accused of Fatally Shooting 2-Year-Old Brother When Parents Allegedly Left Them Alone in Car

Authorities in Wisconsin are investigating the fatal shooting of a two-year-old boy who was allegedly shot by his four-year-old sibling inside a family vehicle on Friday, April 10.

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies responded to a 911 call from a passerby reporting a shooting in a residential driveway. Upon arrival, first responders discovered the toddler with a critical gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.

Preliminary reports indicate that three young children were left briefly unattended in the vehicle while their parents returned to the residence to retrieve forgotten items. During this short window, a four-year-old child located a loaded firearm inside the vehicle’s center console.

The weapon discharged, striking two-year-old Crewe Zahradnik. A third child present in the vehicle was unharmed. While the Sheriff’s Office stated that “no foul play is suspected,” the investigation focuses on the presence of an unsecured, loaded weapon within reach of minors.

Family members and local reports from FOX 11 have identified the victim as Crewe Zahradnik. An online obituary described the toddler as a “happy-go-lucky little man” who had a passion for rodeos and a playful habit of “stealing his mommy’s coffee daily.”

A community-led GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the family with funeral expenses and grief counseling.

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the family is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. However, the tragedy raises significant questions regarding firearm storage and parental liability.

“Any criminal charges that may be forthcoming will be determined at a later time upon the conclusion of the investigation,” the Sheriff’s Office stated in a formal release.

This incident underscores a persistent national trend of accidental shootings involving minors and unsecured firearms. Under Wisconsin law, the determination of charges often hinges on whether a firearm was left in a location where a person “knows or should know that a child is likely to gain access.”

The investigation remains active as authorities review the circumstances leading up to the discharge.