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Police say man accidentally shot himself in the head outside convenience store in St. Petersburg

Officers say the gun went off inside his bag when it dropped and the bullet hit him.
Credit: St. Petersburg Police Department

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg police now say a man died Thursday outside a convenience store after accidentally shooting himself in the head. 

Officers say they were called around 3:36 a.m. to the Kay Food Store on 22nd Street South about a man bleeding.

Investigators say, Desmond Tyrone Boykins, 40, was taken to the hospital with a life-threatening injury where he later died.

Officers first said the case was being treated as a homicide. Now, however, they say evidence shows Boykins accidentally shot himself. 

According to investigators, video from outside the store shows Boykins stumbling and falling in the parking. As he attempted to stand, officers say his bag fell and hit the ground. A gun was inside the bag and fired and a bullet exited the bag and hit Boykins in the head, according to the police department.

Police say the investigation is still ongoing and officers are waiting for information from the medical examiner and a ballistics report from the FDLE.

Anyone with information is asked to call the St. Pete Police Department at 727-893-7780.

This is a developing story. Stay with 10 Tampa Bay for updates.

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