PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The community is comforting the mother of a small child who was shot and killed overnight as Pittsburgh police continue to search for a person of interest.

Investigators say it’s possible that 3-year-old Zymiere Sewell could have pulled the trigger.

Gregory Dalton, 18, was in the room with Sewell when the shooting happened, according to Pittsburgh police.

Detectives hope Dalton can provide them with some answers about what happened.

Shannae Anderson walked away from her Tioga Street apartment in Homewood, clearly distraught over her son’s death.

Police say Dalton was in the bedroom with the child when it happened.

“We want to talk to everyone that was in the apartment or may have left the scene like Mr. Dalton to find out exactly what happened,” Pittsburgh Police Cmdr. Tom Stangrecki said.

Police say Dalton not only left the scene, but also took the weapon. So far, it’s not known if the child accidentally shot himself or if he was shot by someone else.

“We’re keeping an open mind,” Stangrecki said. “We do know there was a gun in that bedroom. Whether or not children had access to it or not – we’re still investigating those circumstances.”

The boy’s father, Anthony Sewell, says he wants answers.

“Why is there a gun sitting around my son?” he said to reporters.

Meanwhile, members from a nearby church formed a circle around Shannae Anderson to pray for her, her son and Dalton.

“We’re praying for him and if he is [a person of] interest then that he turn himself in and we pray that he will,” Pastor Aaron Watt, of Grace Missionary Baptist Church, said.

A 1-year-old girl was also in the bedroom but was not hurt during the shooting.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner found that the boy died from a gunshot wound to the head.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
3-Year-Old Boy Shot, Killed Overnight In Homewood