11-Year-Old California Boy Fatally Shoots Himself During Online Distance-Learning

Authorities say that an 11-year-old California boy died Wednesday after shooting himself during a Zoom distance-learning class while his microphone and camera were off.

Shortly after 11 a.m., the boy was found with a head wound at home in Woodbridge, California. 

San Joaquin County sheriff’s deputies went to the home after receiving several calls reporting that someone had been shot.

In a statement, the sheriff’s office said that the boy died at a hospital from a “self-inflicted” injury. His name wasn’t immediately released.

The report didn’t provide other details or indicate where the boy obtained the gun.

The boy was in a sixth-grade Zoom class for Woodbridge Elementary School when he shot himself. Deputies told KOVR-TV that the boy had his microphone and camera off when he fired.

According to reports, his sister was distance-learning in another room when she found that boy. The sister then alerted her teacher and ran to a neighbor’s house for help.

The Lodi Unified School District offered counseling and bereavement support to students and staff members.

Superintendent Cathy Nichols-Washer said in a post on the district’s Facebook page, “Our thoughts are with the family affected by this terrible tragedy.”