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Justin Stanfield Thomas, a 35-year-old former Army Green Beret from Phoenix, was fatally shot by his 4-year-old son on June 7, 2013, after the boy picked up an unsecured handgun during a visit to a friend's home in Prescott Valley, Arizona, police said.

Prescott Valley police said officers were called to the house around 12:30 p.m. for a report of shots fired. Thomas had driven up from Phoenix with his son for an unannounced visit to a former roommate who lived there. Investigators said the child found a loaded .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol that had been left out in the living room, carried it to his father, and it discharged.

Thomas was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died of his injuries. Police spokesman Brandon Bonney said there was no sign of a crime. "At this point there is no indication of any foul play," Bonney said.

Detectives said the handgun belonged to the man who lived at the home and normally would have been locked away, but the visit was a surprise and the weapon had not been put up. A second adult who was inside at the time was not involved and was cleared. Authorities said they did not expect to file charges against the gun's owner.

Thomas served in the Army Special Forces and was stationed in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, according to relatives. Before he joined the military full time he had performed stand-up comedy. He left behind two children, the 4-year-old boy and a 2-month-old baby.

The boy was interviewed by investigators and released to his mother, who was at home in Phoenix when the shooting happened. Family members said the child did not understand that his father was gone.