Horror autopsy for little boy, 3, who shot himself with loaded .38 caliber revolver left on a dresser

A new autopsy report has given fresh information on a three-year-old boy who died after shooting himself earlier this year.

Clarence Byrd IV died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the morning of Sunday, January 14 at a residence in Murphy Road in Pink Hill, North Carolina. The North Carolina Medical Examiner has now released its investigation into the death .

The autopsy report claims that Clarence shot himself with a loaded .38 caliber revolver which had been left on the dresser in a bedroom by his father . The toddler was unattended when he found the weapon with which he proceeded to shoot himself near his left eye.

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Clarence received medical treatment at the UNC Lenoir Health Care but later died due to his injuries. His father, Clarence Roland Byrd III, has since been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and negligent child abuse.

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An obituary for Clarence announced his death as it paid tribute to him prior to his January 20 funeral. It read: "It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of our beloved Clarence. Clarence Roland Byrd IV passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2024. He was born on April 18, 2020 to Clarence Roland Byrd III (Trey) and Logan Murphy of Pink Hill.

"Clarence was a very loving, smart, funny, energetic, talkative ray of sunshine. He recently took on a new role of 'Big Brother' to his brudder Theo. At home, you could often find him sitting on his blanket in the living room floor watching Paw Patrol and eating. He was a lover of all things Spider-Man! He was his mama and daddy's little shadow. Never did you see him that he wasn't hanging on to one of their back pockets."

It continued: "Clarence leaves behind so many loved ones including his parents, Trey Byrd and Logan Murphy; his little brother, Theodore Byrd aka Teddy Bear; his grandparents, Johnny and Jolyn Murphy, Clarence 'Jr.' Byrd and Kim Byrd; great-grandparents, Chesley Murphy and Louise Gardner and great-great grandmother, Joyce Gardner; aunts and uncles, Chelsea and Patrick Reilly, Nancy DeWitt, Jessika Riles and Jordan Pizzmo; cousins, Jaxton and Kaidin Reilly, Isaiah DeWitt and River Jo Rich; and many other special aunts, uncles and cousins.

"Clarence is deeply loved by all of his many relatives. He will always remain their blonde-haired, blue-eyed baby and they will hold him again in Heaven. Clarence was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Clarence Byrd Sr. 'Pa' and Nancy Byrd, Raeford and Francis Hall, Alma Lee Murphy, Luanna Gardner and Jimmy Gardner.