A Colorado man allegedly shot and killed his 14-year-old stepdaughter by accident on Monday after thinking she was a burglar, CBS News reported.
The incident occurred around 6 a.m., right after police were called in about a potential attempted robbery. Once authorities arrived at the scene, they discovered the girl with a gunshot wound. She was immediately rushed to the hospital where she was eventually pronounced dead.
"It has been determined that the victim's stepfather is the individual who shot the firearm, striking the victim who was a resident of the involved home," police wrote in a statement.
It is unclear whether authorities will be filing charges against the girl's stepfather. According to the Associated Press, Colorado's "Make My Day" law permits residents to defend themselves against intruders.
The names of the girl and her stepfather have not been released and the investigation is ongoing.
News of the 14-year-old girl's death comes just two days after Claire Davis, victim of the Arapahoe High School shooting in Colorado, died after being shot point-blank earlier this month.
The Davis family released a statement announcing her death on Saturday.
"It is with unspeakable sadness that we write and say that Claire has passed away from the gunshot wound she received at Arapahoe High School on December 13," the statement read.
"Although we have lost our precious daughter, we will always be grateful for the indelible journey she took us on over the last 17 years -- we were truly blessed to be Claire's parents. The grace, laughter and light she brought to this world will not be extinguished by her death; to the contrary, it will only get stronger."
The shooting at Arapahoe expectantly added to the national debate over gun control and gun rights, with advocacy groups like Moms Demand Action publishing research on the connection between stronger gun laws in Colorado and lower crime rates and conservative newspapers like The Washington Times suggesting armed responses to shootings are the reason behind lower gun-related death and injury rates.
