3-year-old accidentally shoots 4-year-old sister in Houston

A three-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed her four-year-old sister on Sunday in Houston after she gained access to a gun, authorities said. 

According to the preliminary investigation, the two sisters were playing inside the apartment unsupervised at around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at 9955 Bammel North Houston Road. Both parents believed that their significant other was watching the kids, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. 

During that time, the three-year-old picked up an “unsecured” and loaded semi-automatic pistol. As soon as they heard the gunshot, the parents ran into the room to find that the three-year-old had accidentally shot her four-year-old sister. 

The four-year-old had been shot in the face and was unresponsive and the parents immediately called 911. 

"The toddler was pronounced deceased at the scene," Gonzalez said. 

"It just seems like another tragic story of, again, a child gaining access to a firearm and hurting someone else, and this time there was a fatal shot," Gonzalez added.

All of the adults who were present in the house were detained. Police are investigating if the gun had been properly stored or if the owner was negligent. The case will be presented to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

"You've got to make sure you're a responsible gun owner," Gonzalez said. "Secure your weapons in a safe place. It's got to be more than just to tell the kids not to touch the weapons."

“It is pretty sad to hear a story like this,” said Glenda Velasquez, a resident of the apartment complex where the shooting happened. “I don’t know how to tell my kids, it’s two kids. I can’t believe how the mother feels at this moment. Too sad. It broke everybody’s heart in this apartment because it’s a lot of kids who go to this school behind this building. It’s too sad. It’s supposed to be spring break, too. Sad to start spring break like this with all the kids.”