A 5-year-old boy died after he was accidentally shot at a basketball court at Lee Victory Park in Smyrna on Monday night.

Police responded to the scene around 8pm and found the young child with a gunshot wound. The child, identified as LaVonte’e Williams, was rushed to Stonecrest Medical Center in extremely serious condition. He was later pronounced dead. 

Based on witness statements and evidence at the scene, authorities believed it was a case of accidental shooting. The gun belonged to the boy’s father. He retrieved the weapon from inside his father’s backpack.

The investigation was ongoing and officials said the gun believed to be involved in the shooting was recovered at the scene.

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Tanika Jones, LaVonte’e’s grandmother, told WSME that Monday was the boy’s first full day of kindergarten. He was baptized on Sunday.

“He’s a superhero kid,” Jones said. “He was kind of like the superhero to our family because he wanted to be the little protector.”

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She added that he had a infectious smile and over-the-top personality.

“I know we don’t understand it; we’ll never understand it,” Jones said. “But, God has a purpose and a plan, and he was here for a reason.”

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Lee Victory Park is located at 110 Sam Ridley Parkway East and is the most visited park in the Smyrna Park System. Originally named the Smyrna Recreation Park, it was renamed in the honor of Lee Victory in 2004.

The incident comes a day after two people were hospitalised after a shooting in the front entrance parking lot at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.