4-year-old boy dies from gunshot injury

CLOVIS — A 4-year-old boy who was airlifted to Lubbock on Tuesday night for a gunshot wound died early Wednesday morning.

Curry County Sheriff Wesley Waller told The News his office was informed Barrett Story of Clovis died at 1:41 a.m. CDT. The Air Force told Waller’s office it had a peer group and family with the child’s father. Officials disclosed Tuesday that one of the boy’s parents was in the Air Force.

About noon Tuesday, sheriff’s deputies and the Clovis Fire Department responded to 1051 N.M. 311 regarding a report of a 4-year-old child shot in the head. The boy was taken by ambulance to Plains Regional Medical Center and immediately sent to Lubbock.

“It was determined that the child was at home with a parent when the injury occurred. The investigation into this matter is ongoing,” a Tuesday news release stated.

The firearm, Waller said, was a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol.

District Attorney Andrea Reeb said Friday that no criminal charges had been filed in connection with the child’s death but charges were possible.

“I have no indication from my contact with (law enforcement) that this was intentional,” Reeb said.

“But it will of course be reviewed ... to see if any (criminal charges) are applicable, for example negligent child abuse. It’s really premature to say as I still need to sit down with (investigators), review the case, the statements, autopsy, etc.

“Either way,” she said, “this is a very sad and tragic situation.”

The region’s Major Crimes Unit is involved in the investigation.