The parents of a three-year-old boy woke up in the middle of the night this past week, tragically, to experience what is every parents' worst nightmare.

As reported, the toddler, Jeremiah Banks, accidentally shot himself in the head with his father's gun, while his parents were sleeping in the bedroom of their home in Chicago this Thursday (October 13).

According to the police, the toddler found his father's 9mm semi-automatic gun on a dresser in his parents' bedroom, and walked into the living room where the weapon accidentally was fired. He was immediately rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Commander Joe Florip issued a statement, saying that tragedies, such as Jeremiah's, "really affect our entire community, from the first responders to the neighbors to the poor child who lost his life."

While police confirmed that the boy's father had a valid firearm owner's identification card and owned the weapon legally, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services will be looking into the incident. The organization will be investigating the family for evidence of neglect. At this time, no charges have been filed.

Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to the Banks family during this difficult time.