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(CNN) —
A 4-year-old boy in Utah fired a gun from the back seat of a car at a police officer after his father allegedly ordered him to do so, authorities said.
Police initially received a call to a McDonald's in Midvale on Monday, when restaurant workers reported a man "brandished" a gun at drive-thru employees after they handed him the wrong order, according to a news release from the McDonald's. Greater Salt Lake Unified Police Department (UPD).
Employees told police they asked the man to park in front of the restaurant and wait for the correct order, then called authorities.
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When officers arrived, they repeatedly asked the man to get out of the vehicle.
But he did not follow the instructions, according to the UPD statement.
The cops pulled him out of the car.
While the man was in custody, an officer turned around and saw a gun pointed at them through the rear window, the statement said.
The policeman told the others that there was a gun, and when he slid the gun to the side, he shot himself.
The statement said their investigation indicates the boy's father directed the boy to shoot the officers.
They did not elaborate on the evidence supporting that allegation.
The 4-year-old boy was in the back seat of the car with a 3-year-old brother, according to the UPD.
The agency added that when the police officer realized how small the person with the gun was, he yelled, "Boy."
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The officer suffered a minor injury to his arm, but there were no additional injuries, according to the release.
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The father, who has not been publicly identified, is in custody.
He faces child abuse charges and threats to use a dangerous weapon, UPD Sgt. Melody Cutler told CNN.
"This is a sad day for law enforcement and our community. For an adult to think it's okay to encourage a 4-year-old to pull out a firearm and shoot police illustrates just how out of control the campaign is." against police," Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said in the statement.
"This must stop and we must come together as a community to find solutions to the challenges we face in our neighborhoods."
CNN's Monique Smith contributed to this report.
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