5-year-old died of self-inflicted wound from Glock

The top left apartment at this complex on Gordon Smith Boulevard is where 5-year-old Zachariah Nesbitt lived. He was shot in the chest at 8:42 p.m. Saturday, July 18.

photo by Michael Pitman The top left apartment at this complex on Gordon Smith Boulevard is where 5-year-old Zachariah Nesbitt lived. He was shot in the chest at 8:42 p.m. Saturday, July 18.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Tea Party’s impact may be strongest for general election
11:11 a.m.
Victim of human trafficking speaks to students
11:00 a.m.
‘App economy’ job prospects booming
10:05 a.m.
Bullying law brings rule changes
10:04 a.m.
GE to hire 5,000 veterans, add 400 new manufacturing jobs
9:37 a.m.
> More headlines

By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer Updated 7:59 PM Monday, July 20, 2009

HAMILTON — A self-inflicted gunshot wound suffered by a 5-year-old boy this past weekend caused his death, according to the results of an autopsy performed Monday, July 20, at the Butler County Coroner’s Office.

“It was a accidental, self-inflicted gunshot,” Debbie Lacey, coroner’s investigator, said of the shooting of Zachariah Nesbitt at his home in the 900 block of Gordon Smith Boulevard Saturday night.

The bullet from a 9mm Glock handgun penetrated the right lobe of the lung, Lacey said.

The boy suffered the wound about 8:42 p.m. at his apartment and died later that night at The Fort Hamilton Hospital, according to Hamilton police Officer Rich Burkhardt.

Detectives said Monday they were awaiting the autopsy results to determine how the young boy was shot and whether charges should be filed. The incident remains under investigation and a decision on charges may not be made until later in the week, according to Sgt. Tom Kilgour.

In the 911 tape, a man believed to be Zachariah’s father, David Nesbitt, is screaming and sobbing. He said the boy was shot in the abdomen. The boy’s mother, Elizabeth Nesbitt, was also home when the shooing occurred.

“Oh, my God, no,” the man said. “He got my (expletive) gun out of the closet.”

Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper said the accident is an example of why parents should never keep a loaded gun at home if they have children.

“There are no ifs, ands or buts about it,” Piper said.

Share this article