Thomas Rich Taylor, a 4-year-old boy from rural Mahaska County, Iowa, died from a gunshot wound on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 11, 2024. First responders arrived at the home in the 2600 block of 250th Street at about 2:00 p.m.; deputies and paramedics performed life-saving efforts but Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have described the wound as resulting from an accidental discharge of a firearm, and the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a preliminary investigation with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office.

No arrests or suspects have been publicly announced as the inquiry continues. Thomas was remembered by family as a curious, outdoors-loving little boy known as Tommy, Snakes, or Tom-Tom who enjoyed gummy worms, popsicles, hunting, fishing, and boating.

If anyone has information about what happened that afternoon, please share it with investigators.