Officials identify 2-year-old boy shot, killed at home

LANCASTER, S.C. -- (WSOC) -- Investigators hoped an autopsy scheduled for Tuesday will give them more information about the circumstances surrounding how a toddler was shot and killed in Lancaster.

Police told Channel 9 that the shooting happened just before 8 p.m. Monday at a home on East Dunlap Street.

The toddler, Jacarion Gladden, was shot once in the chest and rushed to the hospital, where he died.

State and local police are trying to determine if someone shot the boy or if he accidentally shot himself.

The Lancaster police chief told Channel 9 that the case is heartbreaking to investigate.

“It's about as bad as it gets,” said Chief Scott Grant. “We feel for the family and we feel for everybody that's been touched by this.”

Channel 9 could see officers going in and out of the home Monday night, meticulously looking at every door frame, handle and window.

Grant said officers have a lot of evidence to process while they determine what led to the shooting.

"We owe it to that little fella to see this thing through and figure out what happened and that's what we're going to do," Grant said.