Four-year-old is Shot and Killed During Alleged Gun Safety Demonstration with Magazine Removed

Four-year-old Evangeline Gunter was shot and killed by Breanna Runions, 25, on Sunday August 27 in Rockwood, Tennessee.  Runions claimed she was trying to demonstrate gun safety to the toddler. Runions’ girlfriend and another child, a 7-year-old, were in the same room at the time of the shooting but claimed they didn’t witness it.

Runions has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. According to the arrest warrant, both children were being punished by Runions, after which she retrieved her Taurus Millennium 9mm handgun from its case, removed the magazine, and after calling Evangeline over to her, discharged a round into the 4-year-old’s chest.

Evangeline’s biological mother said, “I feel like it’s my fault that I let her be there…I wish I could have been a better mother for her, to pay attention…” She added, “[Evangeline] was always a happy child, even if you treated her wrong, she would still walk up to you and say I love you.”

A service for Evangeline will be held on Sept. 5, which would have been her fifth birthday.

This complicated story again illustrates the importance of magazine safety disconnects, particularly for inexperienced gun owners.  Far too many people with guns believe that removing the magazine empties the chamber.  Because there is virtually no government safety oversight of gun designs, new gun buyers are left to fend for themselves and should consider guns with important features like a magazine safety disconnect and a loaded chamber indicator if they truly want to protect their families.

Sources:

Melanie Vásquez Russell, “Woman Charged in Shooting Death of 4-year-old Girl in Rockwood,” wate.com (August 29, 2023).

Michael Lee Simpson, “Woman Shoots 4-year-old Girl in the Chest While Trying to Demonstrate Gun Safety, Say Police,” people.com (September 1, 2023).