4-year-old boy finds gun parents bought for protection, shoots & kills himself

4-year-old Cash Irby, Jr., of Merrillville, Indiana climbed on shelves in a closet in his parent's bedroom in order to get to the top shelf and the loaded, unlocked handgun that was stored there.

Cash took the gun back to his room and unintentionally discharged the gun, shooting himself in the head.  He was rushed to the local hospital where he died of his injuries.

His parents and his 5-year-old sister and 2-year-old brother were all home at the time of the shooting.

A family relative told reporters that the parents bought the gun for protection.  She described Cash as an affectionate child. "He would just come and kiss his dad, like every 10 minutes. He and his sister would play all the time, so well together."

Police are investigating the incident. Indiana law states that "an adult who knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly provides a firearm to a child for any purpose other than those specified commits “dangerous control of a firearm,” a Class C felony."