Crewe Lorinze Zahradnik, a 22-month-old White/Caucasian boy from Fond du Lac, died on April 10, 2026, after a loaded firearm was discharged inside a vehicle parked in the driveway of a home in the Town of Lamartine, Wisconsin. Crewe had been born on June 11, 2024, and his family later remembered him as a cheerful, energetic child who loved rodeos, snacks and spending time with his family.
The tragedy unfolded shortly before 10:30 that Friday morning. At approximately 10:26 a.m., the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office Communications Center received a 911 call from a person who was outside walking and reported that a young child had suffered a gunshot injury at a nearby residence. Deputies were dispatched along with North Fond du Lac Ambulance and Lamartine First Responders. Because of the seriousness of the injury, authorities also requested a ThedaStar medical helicopter. A sheriff's deputy and a first responder arrived within minutes and immediately began lifesaving measures, but Crewe could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined preliminarily that three young children had been placed inside a vehicle in the driveway of their home. A parent then briefly returned to the residence to retrieve a forgotten item, leaving the children in the vehicle for a short period. During that time, a four-year-old sibling discovered a loaded firearm that had been left in the vehicle's center console. The weapon discharged and the bullet struck Crewe. Authorities reported that neither of the other children was injured.
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office described the shooting as an isolated incident and said preliminary evidence did not indicate foul play. The family cooperated with investigators as detectives, working with the Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner's Office, examined the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including how the loaded firearm came to be accessible to the children. Officials did not publicly disclose additional details about the firearm or identify its owner in the initial reports.
Although the sheriff's office did not initially release Crewe's identity because of privacy restrictions, relatives and a family fundraiser subsequently publicly identified him. His obituary also confirmed that he died on April 10 and described a child whose brief life had been filled with enthusiasm and affection for his parents, brothers and extended family. His family remembered his fascination with rodeos and the happiness he brought to those around him. Funeral services were held in Fond du Lac on April 16.
Authorities emphasized following the shooting that firearms must be stored securely and kept beyond the reach of children. The sheriff's office said at the time that the investigation would be completed before a decision was made regarding whether any adult could face criminal charges in connection with the unsecured firearm or the circumstances that allowed the children to gain access to it. Investigators did not treat the young sibling as an adult criminal suspect, and the publicly available reports reviewed do not show that an adult suspect was publicly named.
No publicly reported arrest, criminal charge, trial or conviction connected to Crewe's death was located in subsequent online reporting through August 31, 2026. The most detailed public accounts continued to describe the matter as an accidental shooting under investigation, with any possible criminal charges to be considered after investigators completed their review. As a result, there is no publicly identified defendant or prosecution to report at this time.
