An 11-year-old Philadelphia girl was pronounced dead after an accident in which her 2-year-old brother shot her in the arm on Sunday, NBC 10 reports.
Jamara Stevens and her three siblings—a 14-year-old boy, 7-year-old girl and 2-year-old boy—had found the loaded .357-caliber handgun in their West Philadelphia home and were playing with the weapon when it discharged while in the toddler's hands.
According to the news station, the children's mother, Tiffany Goldwire, was home with them at the time but had gone down the hall to use the bathroom when the incident occurred.
The children found the gun on top of the refrigerator, where it had been left by Goldwire's boyfriend, who was at the house earlier Sunday morning. The 14-year-old was the one who took the gun down.
Investigators say that when the bullet struck Jamara in her arm, it traveled through her chest and hit her heart. She was pronounced dead at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Goldwire and the other children were taken to the police headquarters, where the mother was questioned for almost five hours, NBC 10 notes. Goldwire is apparently not cooperating with the investigation.
Authorities identified the 2-year-old as the one holding the gun at the time of the accident based on a burn he suffered from the discharge and traces of gunpowder on his arm.
No charges have been filed.
Read more at NBC 10.