An 11-year-old Philadelphia girl was shot and killed by her 2-year-old brother when a firearm accidentally discharged in his hands.
Police told NBC News on Sunday that the children's mother was in the bathroom down the hall when Jamara Stevens, 11, was struck by the bullet.
Jamara and her three siblings, a 2-year-old boy, 7-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy, were reportedly in their mother Tiffany Goldwire's bedroom at around 10 a.m. on Saturday. When Tiffany left to use the bathroom, the kids took a .357 caliber handgun with an 8-inch barrel off of the top of the refrigerator and began playing. Police believe the mother's boyfriend left the firearm earlier that morning in the Mantuna home in the 3800 block of Wallace Street, NBC News reported.
Authorities said Jamara's 2-year-old brother then pointed the cocked and loaded firearm toward the 11-year-old girl. The gun discharged and hit Jamara in the shoulder. Medical officials from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia told NBC News that the bullet traveled to her chest, and fatally struck her heart. She died at about 10:20 a.m.
Lt. John Walker described Tiffany Goldwire to WEAR as "distraught" while at the hospital.
Police transferred Goldwire and her three other children to a police station nearby.
Investigators reportedly questioned the mother for five hours.
After searching the surviving family members, officials learned that the boy was holding the gun at the time of discharge. They found gun powder remains on his fingers and a burn from the shot, NBC News reported.
Investigators are still trying to determine who owned the gun.
The firearm in question was on Tiffany Goldwire's bed when police officers first arrived at the Mantua house.
Police said they'd paid visits to the family home in the past.
There have been no charges filed yet, according to NBC News.
