Four children, aged 16 and under, were unintentionally shot and killed today.

In Escambia County, Florida, one-year old Kacey Bass was shot and killed and her two-year old sister was injured by an eight-year old who was playing with his father’s gun. According to the report, the boy took the gun from his father’s closet where presumably it had been left loaded and ready to fire. Roderick Randall, the boy’s father, who is Kacey’s mother’s boyfriend, was arrested on charges including “convicted felon in possession of a firearm,” two counts of culpable negligence, and “failing to store or leave firearm in a required manner.” This incident is strikingly similar to one reported in North Carolina yesterday.

In Gallipolis Ferry, West Virginia, 16-year old Ayden Henry was shot and killed in an incident that police have determined was accidental.  Henry was with his girlfriend and another teenager at the time he was shot. “He was a great kid he was,” Ayden’s father said. “He had a bright future.” The report suggests that the other teenager was the shooter and that that teenager was released to family members without criminal charges.

Another 16-year old was accidentally shot in the head and killed in Byrnes Mill, Missouri.  A group of teenagers were hanging out together when the boy was shot. Another 16-year old was taken into custody, although the sheriff’s department said on Facebook that they believed the shooting was accidental. 

And in Dallas, Texas, in an incident that authorities have said is believed to be accidental, another 11-year old was shot and killed. Police are looking for another boy who they believe was involved in the incident.

In the last three stories, there is no indication about how children got possession of a gun. 

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