Vandalia child dies after accidentally shooting himself in head

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Staff photo by Jan Underwood Police investigate an accidental shooting of a 3-year-old boy Tuesday afternoon, July 21, at 755 Attica St. in Vandalia.

By Doug Page, Staff Writer Updated 11:29 AM Wednesday, July 22, 2009

VANDALIA — Pat McAnaul could be heard on the 911 call praying and comforting her severely injured child.

“It’s OK, buddy, Momma’s here,” McAnaul said. “Just breathe, honey, just breathe ...”

“Please, Lord, take away his pain.”

Moments earlier Tuesday, July 21, young William McAnaul had found his father’s handgun under a bed and pulled the trigger, his mother told a 911 dispatcher. The bullet struck the boy below an eye.

The distraught mother called 911 at 1:33 p.m. “My 3-year-old son just shot himself,” McNaul told the dispatcher, who asked if the child was still breathing. McAnaul said yes.

Firefighters and medics arrived at the home in the 700 block of Attica Street within minutes, and a CareFlight helicopter rushed the boy to Children’s Medical Center. He was declared dead at the hospital.

“It appears to be an absolutely tragic accident,” Rich Hopkins, the city’s communications manager, said while standing across the street from the McNaul’s home.

According to neighbors, Pat McNaul and her husband, Ryan McAnaul, lived in the two-story home with four children ranging in age from 2 to 13.

“They are the kind of family you dream about,” said Greg Rand, who coached Ryan McAnaul as a teenager. “They were our next-door neighbors for a while. They are great parents. They are always doing things together as a family.”

A hospital spokeswoman confirmed William’s death shortly before 5 p.m.

Asked about possible charges, Hopkins said, “The investigation is continuing. A lot of questions will be asked. Detectives will talk to the family, to the coroner and will follow the evidence where ever it leads them, just as with any case.”

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