A tragic incident occurred in St. Louis when a 4-year-old girl died from a gunshot wound after being left alone at home with her siblings. The girl’s mother had gone to the store, leaving four children unattended in the house, according to police.
Late Monday night, officers responded to a call made by one of the children and found the young girl unconscious and barely breathing. She was quickly transported to the hospital in a police vehicle but sadly did not survive.
The children in the home included a 10-year-old, a 9-year-old, the victim, and her 4-year-old twin. During a news conference on Tuesday, police spokesperson Mitch McCoy explained that the shooting appeared to be accidental and was caused by one of the siblings. However, the age of the child who fired the gun has not been disclosed.
“Our investigation is still in the early stages, but it seems the mother left the children alone in the house while she went shopping,” McCoy said. He noted that the firearm was apparently left in a location that was “easily accessible to a small child.”
No charges have been filed yet, and the investigation is ongoing. McCoy expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as “an awful and avoidable tragedy” that has devastated the St. Louis community.
This marks the 15th gun-related death of a child aged 17 or younger in the St. Louis metropolitan area in 2024, according to records from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The girl, who died on Monday, was the youngest victim this year, as confirmed by Tara Rick, executive director of operations for the St. Louis Medical Examiner’s Office.
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McCoy urged gun owners to ensure their firearms are securely stored, especially in homes with children. “If you’re going to own a firearm, be responsible for it,” he emphasized.
