Breaking News: Three-Year-Old Boy Dies in Accidental Self-Shooting at Bartow Burger King
A credit card transaction that wasn’t accepted at the drive-thru at the Burger King in Bartow unintentionally led to the shooting death of a 3-year-old boy who was soon to turn 4.
“We’re going to update you about a very, very tragic event,” opened Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd at an impromptu news conference that started shortly past 9:30 p.m. in the parking lot of MidFlorida Credit Union, the business next to the Burger King.
It began at about 6:25 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. The victim’s father was trying to pay for a dinner purchase when a problem occurred. The sale wouldn’t go through. The reason was not determined.
“So, he had problems with the credit card,” said Judd. According to the sheriff, the parents of the child were recent arrivals to Polk County, having moved here from Connecticut. “So, this was not an unusual circumstance.”
Judd continued and said that at some point, the father removed his gun from his waistband as he was reaching into his pants. The boy reached for the gun and ended up shooting himself in the face. The bullet went through the roof of the vehicle, visible to those investigating. Within minutes, Bartow Police responded, but by 7:30 p.m. the child was declared dead.
Judd then turned the press conference over to Bartow Acting Police Chief Kyle Dowdy.
“This is an absolute tragedy,” said Dowdy. “There’s going to be a family without a son tonight.” In addition, he said, there are the parents who are going to have to pick up the shambles of a family destroyed. But the tragedy, he said, had far-reaching consequences. “And in the end, the community itself is hurt.”
Dowdy then explained that the responding officers are among those hurting. “They are struggling,” he said. “It’s never good to come upon a dead body. It’s troublesome when it’s a child, especially a child of that age.”
In viewing surveillance videos from Burger King, the scene is devastating. The father is seen running around the vehicle. “The father is distraught, extremely distraught. Officers are trying to help him.”
Among the questions posed was whether the actions of the father could be described as negligent. The second part of the same question inquired what would go into the investigation to determine if that was the case.
“I am not prepared to make any statements about that possibility,” responded Judd. However, he made it a point to mention that both parents are managers with Lowe’s Home Improvement, but it was not elaborated upon whether they worked at the Bartow store. “So, they’re very responsible people. They’re totally cooperative in this investigation.”
Judd added that the father was distracted trying to figure out why his credit card hadn’t worked, as this had been an issue before tonight. In doing so, he removed his gun, a Glock, because it was uncomfortable.
“So, he takes his gun out of his waistband, and he lays it down,” said Judd. “The child is in the back seat, playing.” Somehow, unbeknownst to the father, the child gets ahold of the gun. “When all of a sudden, he hears a loud pop.”
Surveillance video shows the father then jumping out of the car and running around. A woman in the car parked next to the vehicle jumped out and was seen dialing 911. Police and first responders, Judd said, worked tirelessly to save the child, but at approximately 7:30 p.m., the boy was declared dead.
“It’s a horrible tragedy.” Judd soon asked for prayers for the family, and if someone didn’t pray, now would be a good time to start.
Taking questions, Judd was asked whether negligence charges might be warranted.
“There’s no having to move further with criminal charges unless we find something we don’t know,” Judd said.
Following the press conference, an employee at the Burger King, who spoke on condition of anonymity since not being authorized to speak, said that at the time of the shooting it wasn’t known what was taking place.
“At first, I heard a bunch of sirens,” the Burger King employee said. “I was like, wow they must be chasing somebody.” That quickly changed when an estimated 15 to 20 law enforcement vehicles surrounded the restaurant. “I didn’t realize what was going on when I look around. I’m like, oh, they’re surrounding us.”
It wasn’t until several minutes later that a police officer entered.
“Five, 10 minutes later, an officer came in needing, you know, camera footage, and gave us a very brief, like, hey, we’ve got a shooting that happened,” the employee said.
Citrus Tea News extends its thoughts and prayers to the family in this tragic loss.
Steve Steiner can be reached at: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Burger King in Bartow?
A 3-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the face in a vehicle at the drive-thru about 6:25 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. He was declared dead at about 7:30 p.m.
How did the child get the gun?
Sheriff Grady Judd said the father removed a Glock pistol from his waistband while dealing with a credit card problem and set it down. The boy, who was in the back seat, picked it up.
Has anyone been charged in the Bartow Burger King shooting?
No. Judd said at the scene that he wasn’t prepared to comment on whether the father’s actions were negligent, and that there was no need to pursue criminal charges unless investigators find something they don’t yet know.
Who is investigating the shooting?
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Bartow Police Department, which responded within minutes of the shooting.
Is it legal to carry a gun in a vehicle in Florida?
Florida law allows adults who may lawfully possess a firearm to carry one in a private vehicle without a license. Nothing said at the scene indicated the father was carrying unlawfully, and Judd described both parents as cooperative with the investigation.
Sources: Polk County Sheriff’s Office news conference, Bartow, October 22, 2026; Bartow Police Department remarks at news conference, Bartow, October 22, 2026; Burger King employee who spoke on condition of anonymity, interview, October 22, 2026
