Indianapolis is heartbroken after a 5-year-old boy accidentally shot himself with a relative’s handgun on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025. The tragedy unfolded at 4:09 p.m. inside a home in the 5200 block of Corgan Way on the city’s southwest side, turning a family holiday into unimaginable sorrow.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers arrived to find little Andreas Woodland suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics rushed him to Riley Hospital for Children in critical condition, but, despite every effort, he was pronounced dead a short time later. The Marion County Coroner’s Office officially identified him on November 28.
Investigators determined the shooting was accidental. A handgun belonging to a relative was left unsecured and accessible inside the home. No criminal charges have been filed at this time, but IMPD’s Child Abuse and Firearms units are continuing the investigation. The department is urging all gun owners to store firearms safely and out of reach of children.
Andreas Woodland was a bright, happy kindergartner whose smile could light up any room. He loved dinosaurs, superheroes, and playing outside with his siblings and cousins. Friends and neighbors describe him as curious, affectionate, and always ready with a hug. His sudden loss has left his family devastated and the entire southwest-side community in shock.
He leaves behind parents, siblings, and a large extended family who gathered for Thanksgiving never imagining it would be their last with him. The pain of losing a child in such a preventable way is beyond words, and the neighborhood has wrapped its arms around them with meals, prayers, and support.
Indianapolis has lost one of its littlest lights far too soon. Andreas Woodland’s short life reminds us all to cherish every moment with our children and to keep them safe. Funeral arrangements will be shared by the family. Until then, the city holds his loved ones close, praying for comfort and healing in the days ahead. Rest easy, sweet boy. You were loved bigger than the sky.
Other Nearby Fatal Shooting