An 8-year-old boy who was fatally shot at a home in northeast Guilford County last month died after gaining access to a firearm that investigators say was left unsecured and accessible to children.
According to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at about 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, May 25, to a reported gunshot wound at a residence at 7679 US Highway 29 North in Reidsville.
When deputies arrived on the scene, they found 8-year-old Gabriel Sanchez suffering from what authorities described as an apparent gunshot wound.
The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Following an investigation, sheriff’s investigators determined that the firearm involved in the shooting had been left unsecured and was accessible to multiple juveniles inside the home.
After consulting with the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office charged 19-year-old Luis Alberto Sanchez Jr. on Monday, June 1, with misdemeanor storage of firearms to protect minors under North Carolina General Statute 14-315.1.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Sanchez is Gabriel’s older brother and was responsible for securing the firearm at the time of the shooting.
Rather than being arrested and taken into custody, Sanchez was served with a criminal summons. He’s now scheduled to appear in Guilford County District Court on Tuesday, June 16, at 8:15 a.m.
Sheriff’s officials stated that no additional charges are anticipated at this time.
The cause and manner of Gabriel’s death remain pending the results of an examination by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information about the case is being asked to contact Detective A. Miller of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office at 336-641-5966 or Guilford County Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000.
In a statement released Monday, the sheriff’s office expressed its condolences to Gabriel’s family, friends and loved ones
