Two children were accidentally shot and killed today.
In Merced, California today, a 5-year old girl was shot and killed by another child who found a loaded and unsecured gun in the home. Her father drove her to the hospital where she died.
The girl’s father, Rodney Mathews, left her at the hospital and led police on a short pursuit. When apprehended, he told police he needed to return to attend to the other children in the home. He was arrested and charged with “child endangerment which resulted in the death of a child.”
Officers say this tragedy serves as an unfortunate reminder for firearm owners to secure their weapons and keep them out of reach from children.
In East Chicago, Indiana, Timiya Andrews, an eight-year old girl who was doing homework in her living room, was struck by a stray bullet that entered her home. She died almost a week later at the hospital.
Police concluded that an unknown individual fired 16 shots from an automatic weapon outside Timiya’s building. There is an ongoing investigation and $20,000 reward has been offered to identify the shooter.
Sources:
Gilbert Magallon, “5-year-old Girl in Merced Accidentally Shot and Killed by Another Child,” ABC 30 (October 23, 2020).
Lucas Gonzalez, “$20,000 Reward Now Offered in 8-year-old East Chicago Girl’s Shooting Death,” nwitimes.com (November 3, 2020).