OSKALOOSA — An accidental gun discharge resulted in the tragic death of a child in rural Mahaska County, and authorities are actively investigating the incident.

The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Wednesday afternoon, around 2pm, members of the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office and the Mahaska Health Hospital were dispatched to the 2600 block of 250th Street, in rural Mahaska County, in reference to a subject suffering from a gunshot.

Upon Deputies’ arrival, it was discovered that a 4-year-old boy had sustained a gunshot wound. Lifesaving efforts by deputies and paramedics were unsuccessful, and the youth was pronounced dead at the scene.

The preliminary investigation indicated that this gunshot wound was the result of an accidental discharge. The investigation into this matter is continuing.

The Sheriff’s Office is being assisted in this investigation by members of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Mahaska Health ambulance service.