Detroit girl, 4, accidentally shoots, kills cousin, 4, while playing
A 4-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed her 4-year-old cousin at a family member’s Detroit home, and two adults, one in the house at the time, were arrested after the incident.
At about 4:50 p.m., three cousins were playing in the back bedroom of their relative’s house, in the 7100 block of Tuxedo Street, jumping on a bed and watching TV, when the 4-year-old girl found a rifle under the bed, Sgt. Michael Woody told the Los Angeles Times.
The rifle was loaded and not locked in a case, he said. The child pulled it out, pointed it and pulled the trigger, Woody said.
Her cousin was hit in the chest; he was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital, police said.
Police officials determined that an adult had been present in the home at the time.
“That particular adult had a felony warrant for their arrest in an unrelated matter,” Woody said.
The adult and the homeowner, who also had a warrant for arrest for an unrelated manner, were taken into custody.
“Prosecutors are seeking charges for felon in possession of firearms,” Woody said.
He could not comment further on their relationship to the children involved.
Woody said this incident is “not indicative of responsible gun ownership,” noting that police officials emphasize that gun owners need to keep their weapons unloaded, in cases and out of reach of small children.
“It’s obviously tragic,” Woody said. “Our hearts go out to the family that has lost its young child.”
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Twitter: @saba_h
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