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Vandalia child shot himself with a 9 mm handgun

William J. McAnaul, 3, died of a self-inflicted gunshot at his Vandalia home on Tuesday, July 21, 2009.

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By Doug Page, Staff Writer Updated 1:34 PM Thursday, July 23, 2009

VANDALIA — Police are continuing their investigation of the apparent accidental shooting of a 3-year-boy.

William J. McAnaul died Tuesday, July 21, at Children’s Medical Center hours after being flown to the hospital from his home in the 700 block of Attica. The boy apparently shot himself in the face with a 9 mm handgun, according to a police incident report.

Vandalia police Lt. Harry Busse said Wednesday detectives were continuing their investigation, and details of the shooting would not be released until that investigation was complete.

Emergency workers were called to the family home just after 1:30 p.m. According to the 911 call, Pat McAnaul told the dispatcher her son had found his father’s handgun under a bed and pulled the trigger, shooting himself just below an eye.

Firefighters and medics arrived at the home within minutes, with a helicopter not far behind.

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

The child was declared dead just before 5 p.m. Results from the child’s autopsy are pending, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.

Pat McAnaul and her husband, Ryan, shared the two-story brick and wood home with their four children, ranging in age from 2 to 13.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2290 or dpage@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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