Miami-Dade police confirmed on Tuesday the death of a 4-year-old girl who was accidentally shot in the head with a firearm by her 3-year-old brother.
The tragic incident occurred last Sunday, November 5 at 2:40 pm at a residence located in the 8180 block of Northwest 21st Avenue, in the West Little River area, reported Univision.
The minor Josalyn Marie Taylor-Rolle He died on November 9, according to a publication by his mother, Krystal Banegas, in a fundraising campaign.
According to authorities, the girl was accidentally shot in the head by her 3-year-old brother with a Taurus 9MM revolver that belonged to the mother’s boyfriend, a 25-year-old man named Quavanta Ennels.
The man was arrested and declared that he was a convicted felon, without a license to carry a gun, and admitted that he left it unattended in a backpack within reach of the children. He now faces charges of possession of a firearm.
The children were in a room where Ennels had left the backpack, and the younger brother took it and shot his sister in the head.
When authorities arrived at the scene, they found the girl injured on the ground and immediately transported her to the Ryder Trauma Center at Hospital Jackson Memorial, where he fought for his life until this Tuesday.
During questioning, Ennels admitted to purchasing the firearm approximately three months ago for $250.
The family opened an account on the platform five days ago GoFundMe to raise funds for the funeral.
The mother, Krystal Banegas, said that “my princess was accidentally shot by her little brother in the forehead on Sunday, November 5, 2023. My princess fought as hard as she could. She was a fighter, she was so full of life. She is such a happy person.”
He stated that the girl “loved showing her 32 teeth; very photogenic; very sweet and loved taking care of her siblings.”
Likewise, that on November 9, his world “has changed forever” because his “daughter is no longer with us.”
The campaign has raised $2,950 of a goal of $12,000.
Firearm possession is a contentious issue in Florida, where several incidents involving children have been reported in recent months.
On September 26, a 10 year old boy died after shooting himself, apparently accidentally, in North Miami, police confirmed.
Just a day before, a three year old girl shot herself with a gun that he found on the couch in his house, also in Miami. In this case the minor survived.
Also in August a nine year old boy He accidentally shot and killed another six in the city of Jacksonville, Florida Police reported. The incident occurred at 2:45 in the afternoon and there was an adult inside the house where the gun and the minors were at the time of the incident.
A June study at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that most unintentional gunshot deaths in which one child shoots another involve boys.
Likewise, he indicated that these events usually occur at the child’s or a friend’s home, where the weapons were kept loaded and unlocked.
