Two young girls were accidentally shot and killed today, one in Arizona and the other in Michigan.

In Tempe, Arizona, a four-year old girl found an older sibling’s loaded gun hidden under a piece of furniture and shot and killed herself.  The girl’s sibling apparently told police that the gun was placed out of sight in the belief that the child would not find it.  Police are considering whether to bring charges.

15-year old Jessica Heroy of Edwardsburg, Michigan was shot and killed by a 12-year old friend who told police that he believed the gun was not loaded. It is unclear how the boy obtained the gun and whether or the gun had a loaded chamber indicator.

Sources:

“PD: 4-year-old Dead After Accidental Shooting in Tempe,” ABC15 (May 18, 2021).

“Update: Teenage Girl Fatally Shot by Child at Cass County Home, Victim ID’d,” WKZO (May 17, 2021).