BETHEL — Authorities say the 4-year-old son of an Alaska State Trooper died Monday when he found a handgun and shot himself in Bethel.
KYUK reported the victim, William Anderson, was playing alone in the living room when he came in contact with the firearm. The father, who was not identified, was not at home when the child died. An agency spokeswoman confirmed the father is a trooper.
The agency said there were two adults and two other children in the home when the child died, but no one was in the room when the gun went off. Troopers said the gun was privately owned.
Next-of-kin were at the scene of the shooting. The body will be sent to Anchorage for an autopsy.
