Military now probing infant's death

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is investigating the case where 9-month-old Makenna Luman died from a gunshot wound Sunday. WAVY.com has learned a United States Marine lives at the Warbler Ct. home where the shooting happened.

Chesapeake Police answered the call for help in the 800 block of Warbler around 10:15 Sunday morning, police spokesperson Dorienne Boykin said. Both parents were home at the time of the incident, Boykin said. Both were questioned and released Sunday.

Marine Forces Command spokesperson Deputy Dennis Neal would not confirm the Marine's identity or say if Luman's mother or father was the enlisted servicemember.

The neighborhood where the shooting happened, is a close-knit military community where friends and neighbors of the Lumans are still trying to cope with the tragedy, one neighbor said. "Obviously a child has died and it is very tragic for everyone involved, the family, the investigators, neighbors, so we are working this case as actively and diligently as possible," Boykin added.

Neal also offered words of comfort saying on behalf of the Marine Forces Command saying, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Luman family."

Neal said U.S. Marine officials hoped to receive information from Chesapeake Police and NCIS either Tuesday or Wednesday before deciding if the servicemember involved would face any military action from the U.S. Marines.

While the preliminary investigation has revealed the incident to be an apparent accident, Boykin said detectives were still gathering information in the case. Investigators have not said what the circumstances were when the gun went off. It was unclear if the weapon was military issued or privately owned. Boykin still offered a public reminder regarding guns in homes where children live. "You have to use very good safety measures anytime there is a firearm in a home with children," she said, adding, "if you have to clean your weapon maybe [when] the children aren't in the home at the time or go to someone else's home where there aren't children, it's just all a matter of someone being responsible and exercising good judgment when you're dealing with a deadly weapon."

An investigation continues. Stay with WAVY.com and WAVY News 10 for the very latest.