A 3-year-old boy was found dead inside a sweltering car outside his home in southern Utah, according to police.
On Monday, September 1, at 6:11 p.m., deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a call they couldn’t understand because someone was screaming, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office, KSL.com.
According to a statement from the sheriff’s office, dispatchers classified the call as a “911 hangup” but still dispatched deputies to Veyo, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Deputies discovered an unresponsive toddler inside a car, Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Lucas Alfred told KSL.com.
Paramedics attempted life-saving measures on the boy but were unable to save him; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff’s office stated that its investigation revealed that the child “was left unattended after a shopping trip with his family” on September 1, when temperatures reached the 90s.
It’s unclear how long he spent in the car.
Authorities are investigating. According to Fox13, they have not yet decided whether to file charges.
“The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is saddened that this tragic incident occurred and extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community this has affected,” the department said in a statement.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s inquiry for information.
