3-year-old in Milwaukee dies after accidentally shooting himself early Friday

A 3-year-old boy died early Friday morning on Milwaukee's west side after police say he obtained a gun and unintentionally shot himself.

Police said they were called to the 1100 block of N. 20th Street at 4:40 a.m. Friday. The boy, identified as Akai W. Stilo, was taken to Children's Wisconsin hospital, where he later died, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office.

More:Milwaukee officials encourage residents to pick up free gun locks. Here's where to find them.

A 28-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the incident, police said. 

The incident marks the 15th juvenile homicide of the year in Milwaukee, coming just three days after 15-year-old Dechale N. Hampton was killed in a shooting on the city's northwest side. 

"I am disturbed by all gun deaths in Milwaukee, but when the victim is a 3-yr-old, I am horrified," Mayor Cavalier Johnson said in a Tweet on Friday. "There are too many guns in the hands of people who should not have them. All weapons must be locked and secured in a home."

In a news release, the Milwaukee Police Department encouraged residents to use gun locks and store firearms out of the reach of children. 

Where to find free gun locks

United Neighborhood Center of Milwaukee, 1609 W. North Avenue.

City on a Hill, 2224 W. Kilbourn Avenue, during outreach events on the second Saturday of each month.

Milwaukee Christian Center, 807 S. 14th Street, at their food pantry, which operates Monday through Thursday, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, 2819 W. Richardson Place.

Neu-Life Community Development, 2014 W. North Avenue.

Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, 5460 N 64th Street.

COA Youth and Family Centers, 909 E. Garfield Ave. and 2320 W. Burleigh St.

Northcott Neighborhood House, 2460 N. 6th St.

Journey House, 2110 W. Scott St.

All Milwaukee Fire Department stations and health centers run by the Milwaukee Health Department also hand out free gun locks. Directories for fire stations and health centers are available online.

How to safely store guns

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, roughly a third of U.S. homes with children have guns, and even young toddlers are capable of finding unlocked guns and are strong enough to pull the trigger.

In homes with guns, the likelihood of an accidental death by a gun is four times higher. The most effective way to prevent unintentional shootings is the absence of guns in homes.

But for those that do have them, the academy recommends guns be locked away and ammunition locked and stored separately. Children and teens should not be able to unlock the boxes that store firearms and guns that are loaded and unlocked should not be stored in a car or anywhere else on your property.

The academy recommends guns be unloaded any time they are set down.

Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter @elliothughes12.