A three-year-old child in California accidentally shot and killed their younger sister, aged one, after getting hold of a handgun, US authorities have said.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department received a call about a shooting on Monday around 7.30 a.m. local time. The shooting occurred at a home in Fallbrook, about 55 miles north of San Diego.
The toddler had reportedly gotten hold of an "unsecured handgun", and their younger sibling, who has not been named, suffered "a head injury," the sheriff’s department said.
The injured child was taken to a nearby hospital but died one hour later. It was not immediately clear if any parents were in the home at the time of the shooting, authorities said.
“The Sheriff’s Department extends our sympathies to the family and those affected by this death," a statement to the press read.
"Sheriff’s Homicide investigators are working to gather more information to determine the circumstances of the death." There are “no outstanding suspects” and no threat to the community in the shooting, officials added.
The girl who was shot by her sister
The youngster's death comes as the latest firearms-related tragedy to occur following an accidental shooting by a child in the US.
As of July 12, there have been at least 217 unintentional shootings by children. These shootings have resulted in 76 deaths and 149 injuries so far this year, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control nonprofit organization.
Gun control has been a matter of debate in American law. Since purchasing or getting a gun is not hard to find in the USA, there have been several killings and mass shootings in the country almost every day.
This is the time when authorities and the law come together to facilitate how they can help curb the flow of guns in the country. Most of the victims who have died through shootings are mostly children, teenagers, and women.
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