3 year old Georgia girl shot in home

Takira Garlington, age 3

We have reported on more than a few 3 year olds shot in the last month or so. Here is yet another so far mysterious case in Georgia. The gun was fired inside of the home where there were several adults. The 3 year old girl died from the bullet wound to her stomach. The adults have all been taken into custody while an investigation is ongoing. From the article:

"Depending on what their findings are, and our findings, the cause and manner of death will follow," Guerrucci said. "That could take several weeks."

According to standard operating procedure, police notify the Georgia Department of Family and Child Services in cases involving children "to make them part of the investigation," he said.

The little girl was visiting her grandmother, her great-grandmother Aquanita Carter told the AJC. Carter said she learned about the shooting from news reports.

"When they said 'Cushman Circle' I knew it was my daughter's house," Carter said. "We came straight here."

Carter said her daughter, who owns the home but hasn't been identified by police, didn't own a gun. "She doesn't like guns like I don't like guns," the relative said.

Neighbor Karrin Mateen said she didn't know the family well, but never had issues with the people living next door.

Mateen, who said she's lived next to the family for about five years, said she saw the little girl often and the child looked well-cared for. She didn't know of any previous problems the family might have had with authorities.

"I never heard of any problems with that baby," she said. "They're quiet neighbors like I am."

We will be reporting more about this case as it unfolds. Meanwhile, another 3 year old is dead from gunshot wounds.

UPDATE (3/29/12):  The 3-year old girl victim's name was Takira Garlington.  An 18-year old young man has been arrested for the shooting.

UPDATE (3/21/12):  The shooter was the girl's uncle, 18-year old Larenzo Montgomery.  From the article:

On Thursday, investigators charged Kira's uncle, 18-year-old Larenzo Montgomery, with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct.  

Williams told Viteri they have not been able to speak to Montgomery, who was extremely close to his young niece.  

"The sad thing is we’re not able to talk to him to comfort him, to to let him know that we know that it was an accident," she said.  

The family is trying to find a way to cover funeral expenses for the toddler, who Williams described as happy and always trying to cheer up others.  

Williams stressed the importance of keeping guns away from children. She said the gun involved in the shooting did not belong to Montgomery. 

The shooting appears to have been unintentional.