Toddler dies after shooting themself at Bartow Burger King

As dispatch gathered more information, radio traffic indicated the child had apparently shot themself and was initially reported as unresponsive. Responders asked whether the scene was secure and held EMS staged until law enforcement arrived, while cross-feed traffic identified the injury as a gunshot wound to the face.

Once Bartow police were confirmed on scene, EMS moved in to begin care. Radio traffic described one patient with a gunshot wound to the face, and later accounts said officers started lifesaving measures before the child was taken from the scene.

As treatment continued, command directed crews to look for a helicopter landing zone behind Lowe's. The incident was upgraded on the radio to a pediatric trauma alert, and responders later gave landing-zone dimensions and noted nearby hazards including power lines and trees.

While the trauma response was still unfolding, radio traffic indicated the patient was being taken with one patient aboard and referenced Orlando Health before later clarification. The transport plan was still evolving as crews worked the pediatric emergency.

Crews asked for the air-medical ETA and were told Air Care 5 was about 10 minutes out, but command soon canceled the helicopter. The child was instead taken by ground to Lakeland, and radio traffic also coordinated a blood intercept and requested chaplain support at the hospital.

Units advised they were heading to Lakeland with Medic 209, and later radio traffic clarified the child was being taken to the pediatric trauma side at Lakeland Regional. Police traffic also referenced sending a unit with the child to the hospital.

Despite extensive lifesaving efforts by first responders and hospital staff, the child was pronounced dead at Lakeland Regional Health later that evening. News reports said the fatal wound was to the face.

After the transport, investigators said surveillance and preliminary interviews supported the conclusion that the child found the gun inside the vehicle and accidentally shot himself. Authorities also said the father was distraught and that the Polk County Sheriff's Office was assisting Bartow police with the investigation.