BOSTON -- A criminal investigation has been launched into the death of an 8-year-old Connecticut boy who accidentally shot himself in the head while firing an Uzi at a Massachusetts gun club during the weekend.

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Christopher Bizilj, of Ashford, Conn., lost control of the weapon on Sunday while firing it at the Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo at the Westfield Sportsman's Club.

A criminal investigation involving state and local police is being conducted, according to Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett. Officials are focusing on whether the statute that governs firearms in Massachusetts was violated.

"At this point, I have found no lawful authority which allows an 8-year-old to possess or fire a machine gun," Bennett said in a statement.

Bennett also questioned whether it was a "reckless or wanton act" to allow the boy to use a fully loaded automatic weapon.

"The weapon was loaded and prepared by the instructor and handed to the 8-year-old boy," said Westfield Police Department Lt. Hipolito Nunez. "At that time, the 8-year-old boy fired the weapon, the front end of the weapon raised up to his head, and a round struck him in the head."