14 DAY TRIAL // A 5-year-old boy from Kentucky has accidentally shot his sister, 2, with his own gun. The girl incurred fatal injuries and later died at the hospital.
The siblings from Burkesville, Cumberland County were at home when the incident occurred. The little girl was getting ready to step outside of the house when she was shot in the chest.
According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Caroline Sparks was transported to the Cumberland County Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
She was shot at around 1 p.m., while her mother was inside the Lawson's Bottom Road house.
“It was god's will. It was her time to go, I guess.
“I just know she's in heaven right now and I know she's in good hands with the lord,” tearful grandmother Linda Riddle says.
Police identified the gun used in the shooting as a Crickett, a product advertised as “My First Rifle” and gifted to her older brother.
“It's a Crickett. [...] It's a little rifle for a kid. ...The little boy's used to shooting the little gun,” County Coroner Gary White states.
The .22-caliber rifle is manufactured by the Keystone Sporting Arms company, Daily Mail reports. It had been gifted to the victim' brother when he was 4 years old.
“The goal of KSA is to instill gun safety in the minds of youth shooters and encourage them to gain the knowledge and respect that hunting and shooting activities require and deserve,” the description on the Keystone site reads.
The police have dubbed the death an accident and will not be pressing any charges in this case.
“Accidents happen with guns. [...] They thought the gun was actually unloaded, and it wasn't.
“Down in Kentucky where we're from, you know, guns are passed down from generation to generation.
“You start at a young age with guns for hunting and everything,” White adds.