3-Year-Old Killed in Suspected Accidental Shooting in Hattiesburg

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — A heartbreaking investigation is underway after a young child was killed Monday evening in what authorities believe to be an accidental shooting.

According to the Hattiesburg Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Hattiesburg just after 7 p.m. on April 20, 2026, following reports of a shooting.

When first responders arrived, they found a 3-year-old girl suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite urgent life-saving efforts at the scene, the child tragically did not survive.

Investigators say preliminary findings indicate the shooting was unintentional, though the exact circumstances surrounding how the firearm was accessed and discharged remain unclear.

Authorities emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public, but the case remains under active investigation as detectives work to determine what led to the devastating incident.

Officials have not released additional details, including who may have been present at the time of the shooting.

This tragedy underscores the critical importance of firearm safety, particularly around children.

BuzzReport will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.