KAMAS — The family of a Kamas boy tragically killed in an accident involving a gun at his house thanked first responders on Thursday while asking the public for privacy.
“Our son Cash Cover lost his life in a tragic accident involving a gun,” the family stated. “We truly appreciate the outpouring of love and support from our community and friends. We would like to thank all of the amazing people that assisted him including all the emergency responders, Life Flight and Summit County officials that did everything they could to help him. At this time, we ask that you respect our privacy. We will announce arrangements to celebrate Cash in the upcoming days. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!”
Cash, 11, was accidentally shot in the chest Wednesday at his home off state Route 248 on Wednesday.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office said Cash, his older brother and mother were outside the home prior to the incident doing chores. When they were done, the boys asked their mother if they could get BB guns from the house and shoot them outside, said Sheriff’s Lt. Andrew Wright.
Cash, however, went into the bedroom and grabbed a real handgun, not a BB gun, Wright said. After walking out of the bedroom into the hallway, Cash was shot, prompting a scream from his brother who was also inside the house.
Their mother came running into the house when she heard the screams and found Cash.
One of the first arriving deputies to the scene is also a paramedic and did everything he could to try and save Cash, Wright said. But the boy died a short time later from his injury.
Whether Cash knew he was grabbing a real gun or if he mistook it for a BB gun was unknown Thursday. And while the investigation was continuing, Wright said, “Some questions may never be answered,” including how the gun discharged.
In their statement, the family said Cash did not purposely shoot himself. Wright, while saying investigators were still trying to determine how the gun went off, also said police do not believe anyone else in the house shot Cash.
The incident has been very difficult on deputies, Wright said. Some members of the sheriff’s office know the Cover family personally, he said.
“This incident was a tragic accident. The family is distraught and heartbroken. The Cover family continues to ask for privacy while they process and grieve this tragic accident. The entire Summit County Sheriff’s Office is heartbroken over the passing of Cash, and we mourn with the Cover family. Hug someone you love a little tighter today,” the sheriff’s office said in a prepared statement.