4-year-old dies after shooting himself at childcare

A 4-year-old died in Virginia on Monday after shooting himself in an Orange County home where a child-care service operates, authorities said.

At about 12:45 p.m. Monday, Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies responded after a 911 call reported a child shooting himself at a residence on Mine Run Road, according to a department statement. The child, who was not identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The residence where the child-care service operates is also the home to a Stafford County deputy sheriff. The officer was not at home at the time of the incident, according to the statement, and the firearm in the shooting was not a service weapon.

In a statement, the Stafford County Sheriff's Office said the officer, whose name was not released, is a recruit at the Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy who started working with the department in December.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident, and an autopsy has been ordered.