A 6-year-old Missouri girl was reportedly killed Friday when her older brother accidentally shot her in the back of her head while their parents attended a Christmas party.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, police said Maliyah Palmer died after her 12-year-old brother found a 9mm handgun in a dresser in their parents’ bedroom and unintentionally fired it. The pair’s 16-year-old sister was reportedly watching them at the time.
Officer Steve Michael said police were called to the home at 11 p.m., following reports that a child “accidentally discharged a round.” She was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Calling the 6-year-old’s shooting death a “tragic accident,” police initially said they don’t plan to file any criminal charges but have since stepped back on those comments, saying they “have not ruled out” the possibility, according to People.
On Monday, police chief Timothy Lowery said they were mistaken in their original comments as standard procedure is for them to give their evidence to the district attorney, who will determine whether criminal charges will be filed.
He said, “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.
[Featured Image: Maliyah Palmer/Parkway School District]
