Five-year-old Killed by Older Brother with Father’s AR-style Rifle

In Phoenix, Arizona, five-year-old Layla Ramos, was accidentally shot and killed with an AR-style rifle by her nine-year-old brother. Witnesses said they saw the brother frantically run from the house screaming after the shooting. Their father, 33-year-old Irvin Ramos-Jimenez, admitted to police that he stored the rifle on the top shelf in his son’s bedroom. Despite being a felon, which makes it illegal for Ramos-Jimenez to own a gun, he admitted that he purchased the rifle for “for personal protection.” He was charged with possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, but the investigation is still ongoing.

Layla’s mother said in a statement, “…[s]he had the gentlest soul—kind, soft-hearted, and always so loving. Layla was the kind of child who made everyone feel special with just a smile or a quiet hug. She was so excited for school to start soon; she would talk about it with such joy and anticipation. She loved deeply and purely, and that love will stay with us forever….”

Source:

Tianna Morimoto, Peter Valencia, David Baker, Alexis Cortez, “Father Arrested After Young Girl Shot to Death by 9-year-old Brother in South Phoenix,” azfamily.com (June 5, 2025).