PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A family and community in Portsmouth are mourning the loss of a 3-year-old boy, after police said Monday evening that they are investigating the child's death.
Officers responded to the Mt. Hermon neighborhood at 4:30 p.m.
Portsmouth Police have not released a lot of details at this time. Investigators spent hours combing through the scene, focusing efforts in and around a house on Ash Street.
Police confirmed on Tuesday that the child died from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital for treatment beforehand passing away from his injuries.
As detectives carry on with their investigation, one woman shared her account and heartbreak surrounding Monday afternoon's events.
"That just makes my heart drop, because it's a baby. It's a baby," said longtime Portsmouth resident Tomeka Lathan.
Lathan spoke with 13News Now as she looked at an active scene in her neighborhood.
Before a flurry of emergency responders descended on the street, Lathan recalled hearing what she said sounded like a gunshot.
"I was like, 'What's that?' Then, I was hearing screaming," she said.
Lathan then recounted a person on the street, overwhelmed with emotion. She said her daughter went up to help, asking if medics needed to be called.
"Everything was so emotional, but still don't know what had happened," Lathan added.
Police would later issue a Tweet, saying they are investigating a 3-year-old boy's death.
"It's a baby," said Lathan. "3 years old... 3?"
Officers did not say how the toddler died, nor did they report Monday evening what led to it.
"We have just too much going on right now - too much going on, and there are a lot of things we have to take into consideration," Lathan said. "I just want to send the family my love."
She said she does not know the family involved or the child who died.
13News Now will deliver updates surrounding this case, as we learn them from police.