Police said a 3-year-old girl discovered a loaded gun in a Texas house and unintentionally shot her 4-year-old sister, killing her on Sunday.
The girls were in the bedroom of their parents' apartment on Bammel North Houston Road in Houston at around 8:00 in the evening, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, according to CBS News.
The official said that five people, all of whom were either relatives or acquaintances of the family, were in various sections of the apartment while the girls were left unattended.
Sheriff Gonzalez said that one parent had left their daughters alone in a bedroom on the mistaken assumption that the other was supervising them. The sheriff said the 3-year-old girl discovered a loaded gun and fired a single shot.
The 3-year-old obtained "access to a loaded, semi-automatic pistol. "Family members heard a single gunshot," Gonzales said and added that they hurried into the room and discovered the 4-year-old girl unconscious, per an ABC News report.
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Gonzalez informed reporters the Texas gunshot victim was declared dead at the scene when police responded to the family's 911 call.
The sheriff noted that the preliminary police investigation will be used by the Harris County District Attorney's Office to determine if any of the adults will be charged.
Gonzalez remarked that the community is heartbroken by the gun accident, which could have been prevented.
The Texas police official urged the gun owners to be responsible by keeping their firearms locked and away from the reach of children.
"It's got to be more than just telling young kids not to touch the weapons," Gonzalez said, according to NBC DFW.
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