A 12-year-old boy died Monday morning from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a Boy Scout camp in San Diego's Mission Bay, authorities said.
Emergency responders arrived at the Fiesta Island camp site a little after 7:30 a.m. to find the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest and a weapon nearby, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. But responders were unable to resuscitate the boy and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
San Diego police could not confirm if the boy, from Las Vegas, committed suicide or if the shooting was an accident. Investigators are expected to question the victim's father, who was at the camp.
The boy apparently belonged to a group of 20 scouts that arrived at the camp on Sunday for a week-long stay. One adult at the camp, Kevin Brennan, said he heard the sound of gunshots that morning but did not think anything of it.
"It's absolutely tragic," Brennan, 54, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "Occasionally, there are incidents during Boy Scout activities, but I've never seen an accident like this."
Counselors were available to help the scouts deal with the crisis.
"This is an extremely sad day for our entire Scouting family," Boy Scouts of America said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and all those who experienced this tragedy. Our top priority is providing support to our community and for those in the grieving process."
The one-week summer program allows the boys to engage in outdoor activities while earning merit badges. No firearms are allowed at the camp and there is no shooting range, officials told the newspaper.
"I would never expect that at a Scout camp," Bob Jones, whose 12-year-old grandson attended the camp, told the newspaper. "I would truly never expect a thing like that to happen."
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
