6-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed by brother while parents were at a party
A 6-year-old girl in Florissant, Mo., was accidentally shot and killed by her older brother on Friday while their parents were at a Christmas party.
The girl, later identified as Maliyah Palmer, was at home with her 12-year-old brother and 16-year-old sister when the boy discovered a 9mm handgun in a dresser drawer in their parents’ bedroom and accidentally shot his younger sister in the head. Police arrived on the scene around 11 p.m., before Maliyah died at the hospital.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, an initial statement from the Florissant police department said, “Investigators have determined that this was a tragic accident and no charges will be filed at this time.” However, Police Chief Timothy Lowery reportedly followed up with a correction, to say that investigators will be giving their findings to prosecutors, who will determine any charges.
“You couldn’t have written a more tragic script, the whole thing is just so tragic and terrible, but we have to put our personal feelings aside and do the law enforcement side of this,” Lowery told the outlet.
The chief added that each of the first responders who arrived at the scene were mothers and fathers themselves, adding to the heartbreak of the incident. “We will have counselors here for a debriefing, hopefully this week, to make sure the mental state of our officers is OK,” he said.
As for the Parkway School District, where Maliyah was in first grade at Green Trails Elementary School, the school is also reportedly taking measures to offer counseling to her fellow classmates. Administrators didn’t immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. However, a letter to parents from principal Rene Sommers obtained by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch explained that they would be working with Annie’s Hope, an organisation dedicated to grieving children.
“Our goal will be to keep the day and routine normal,” Sommers’s letter read. “We will share the news honestly and openly so that understanding, processing, grieving and healing can begin.”
On Monday, the Florissant police department took to its Facebook page in light of the tragedy to share a reminder that it offers free gun locks at the station as part of Project ChildSafe.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
• ‘Let’s avoid tragedy’: Police warn against giving toy guns as presents this holiday season
• Texas woman packing heat accidentally shot her 14-year-old niece during a gun lesson
• Teen hailed as hero for reporting classmate with gun and preventing possible school shooting
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