4 year old South Carolina boy accidentally shoots himself

A 4 year old South Carolina boy found a gun in the home of his grandparents and shot himself:

Police responded to the 800 block of West Richardson Avenue about 4:30 pm after a report about a child with a gunshot wound.

Police say the child found a weapon and shot himself.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

3 year old South Carolina boy shot at his home

A 3 year old South Carolina child was shot in his home. No details yet as to the cause of the shooting. As we write so often on this blog, children gain access to unsecured guns in homes far too often.

3-year old South Carolina boy shoots himself to death with pink handgun he thought was a toy

Temorej Smith, age 3, and a comparable handgun
(source)

Three-year old Temorej Smith was in a home in Greenville, South Carolina, with his 7-year old
sister when they found a loaded, unsecured handgun in the bedroom.  Thinking it was a toy, he handled it, then fatally shot himself in the head.

His grandparents were in the next room at the time.

From an article and news article:

On Monday, police said the child and his 7-year-old sister were playing with a pink handgun, they thought was a toy, when the shooting happened. 

Fowler said that the child was in the bedroom and his grandparents were in the living room when the gun went off. 

Fowler said the child's parents were not in the home. 

According to Johnathan Bragg of the Greenville Police Department, when officers arrived at the apartment just before 8 p.m. Friday, they found the young child that had been shot. 

"If you have guns, if you own guns mostly we would prefer you have them in a lock box," Bragg said. "At least have them out of the reach of children." 

Bragg told News 4 no one was in custody and that the investigation is ongoing. Police have yet to say who fired the weapon.

Guns are lethal weapons.  They shouldn't be "cute" colors.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

2 South Carolina children killed in domestic shooting

In the third domestic shooting in about as many days, two more small South Carolina children are dead in a domestic murder/suicide:

A family of Jehovah's Witnesses have been found dead in their South Carolina home after what police say was a shocking murder-suicide.

The bodies of a couple - believed to be Sheddrick and Kia Miller - and their two young children were found Wednesday morning scattered throughout the family's two-story home near Irmo. (...) 

Each of the four was shot in the upper body and a handgun, the presumed murder weapon, was found near the father, Wilson said. 

He said initial evidence suggested a domestic disturbance. Investigators are checking records to see if there had been any prior domestic violence calls made to the house. (...) 

Family friend Rachel Hinson, 25, described them as a good family and said the children were both under the age of five.

She told the Observer she had attended bible study at the Millers' home and went to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with them. 

'It's confusing, and it's not understandable why something like that would happen,' said Hinson, who's grandmother lives near the home.

South Carolina is the worst of all 50 states when it comes to domestic homicides, according to a report by the Violence Policy Center in Washington.

8-year old South Carolina boy shot by father while deer hunting

An 8-year old boy was hunting deer with his father in the woods, near Olanta, South Carolina, when his father shot at a deer.  Unfortunately, his father hit the boy instead.

The boy is currently undergoing surgery.

From an article:

Byers said officials were notified at about 4:30 pm Wednesday, that a father had accidentally shot his 8-year-old son while the pair was deer hunting. 

Byers said the boy was struck by stray buckshot during the incident and had to undergo surgery Wednesday evening, though the outcome of the surgery is not known at this time. 

Prior to the surgery, the boy was in stable condition while in the hospital and his injuries did not appear to be life threatening, Byers said.

The article did not say whether the boy was wearing an orange vest or hat.

12-year old South Carolina girl unintentionally shot and killed by 15-year old boy

12-year old Hope Alexandria Fair (source)

A 12-year old girl, Hope Alexandra Fair, and a 15-year old boy found a loaded handgun in the girl's
grandfather's vehicle and started playing with it.  The boy then unintentionally discharged the weapon, hitting Hope in the head and killing her.  The boy initially lied about what happened until police were able to piece together the events.

From an article and news video:

The shooter called the local police and falsely reported he was outside and heard a shot and walked into the home to find Hope Alexandra Fair dead on the floor. Then a second call came in from Fair’s friend, telling police that the boy was holding the gun when Fair was shot in the head. The boy told several versions of the event to police before finally admitting he was the one holding the weapon when it went off. 

Lt. Jawarski Shelton reported, “Eventually, he admitted that he was actually holding the gun when it fired and that he was actually loading a magazine into the weapon. When he pulled the slide back, the gun fired.”  

After searching a nearby wooded area, on Monday morning police found the pistol used in the shooting. The weapon had been taken from the boy’s grandfather’s truck without permission. 

The victim’s mother, Michelle Fair, cried as she talked about her daughter and the accident. “She was strong. She was creative. She was definitely one of a kind. She was so beautiful.” Fair added, “I know it was an accident, and he’ll have to pay for that accident for a long time. I feel sorry for them. I feel sorry for him. I’ll lose my daughter forever. They’re going to lose their kid for a long time, too.”

The article does not indicate whether the gun owner will be held responsible.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

4-year old South Carolina girl shot by stray bullet from outside her home

Zahara Walker, age 5

4-year old Zahara Walker was innocently watching TV in her Columbia, South Carolina, when a bullet entered her home and hit her.

The bullet was likely fired by Marcus Gantt, who is caught on video firing multiple shots at a passing vehicle.

Luckily, Zahara survived her wound and is now out of intensive care.

From an article and news video, including video of Gantt firing the shots:

[Zahara's father] says even though he knows the history of violence at the Colony Apartments, he never expected his daughter to be impacted by it.

"She had tubes in her mouth.  Tubes in her nose," Walker said.  "I didn't think it would happen to my daughter. But it's always violent out there."

Walker says he doesn't recognize or know Marcus Gantt, the suspect charged in connection with the case. Police say Gantt fired shots at people inside a silver Dodge Charger. During the exchange of gunfire, a stray bullet hit Zahara inside her home.

"It shouldn't be happening in no neighborhood," Walker said.  "You're guiding the kids the wrong way.  You're teaching them to be thugs.  Teach them to play basketball.  Tell them to pick up a book.  Influence them to do good and not bad."

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More kids shot over the past 5 days

It's been hard to keep up with all the shootings of and by kids in the last week or so. We refer you again to Joe Nocera's Gun Report in the New York Times. In the July 10th report, Nocera reports on 2 children injured in Washington state and 2 in Virginia. In the July 11th report, more child shootings occurred. From his article:

A 1-year-old boy and a 7-month-old boy were shot on the front porch of a home in Hampton, Va., late Wednesday. The boys were with a caregiver when they were both struck in the torso. A nearby house and car were pockmarked with bullets after the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to call police.

—Wavy.com

A 4-year-old girl is in critical condition after being shot by a stray bullet while watching television in Columbia, S.C., Monday night. According to preliminary reports, shots may have been fired between a group of people on foot and a silver Dodge charger near the Colony Apartments. Police have released surveillance video of the suspects.

—Columbia Patch

Tyrese Short, 9, was killed in a drive-by shooting in St. Louis, Mo., early Wednesday. The boy was a passenger in a car with his father and two others when he was shot in the head. Officials have not released details on possible suspects.

—KSDK.com

Logan Allen, 15, died Wednesday morning after being accidentally shot Tuesday at a home in Edina, Mo. Officials say Allen and a couple of other boys were hanging out when Allen was accidentally shot in the back of the head with a .22-caliber firearm.

—HeartlandConnection.com

That's 3 injured and 2 dead in one day. States where these occurred- Missouri, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Mentally ill woman attempts to shoot school teachers at South Carolina school

A woman who was dangerously mentally ill, and who had previously threatened to kill the president during an incident with a Customs official, was nonetheless able to buy a gun.  Alice Boland, 28, was at the gate of the Charlston, South Carolina girls' preparatory school when she pulled out a gun and attempted to shoot two school faculty.  

The only reason she failed was because she didn't understand how to unlock the firing mechanism.

From an article:

Alice Boland, 28, who was charged in 2005 with threatening to assassinate President George W. Bush and members of Congress as she waited in line at U.S. Customs, is again charged with plotting a violent attack. On Monday, after pacing in front of the school gates during car pool and visibly swinging a gun, she tried to shoot two faculty members: the director of the high school, Mary Schweers, and an English teacher, Chris Hughes. 

The police charged Ms. Boland with attempted murder and unlawful carrying of a firearm. The only thing that stopped her, they said, was that she did not realize the gun was locked. 

“We were very fortunate she did not know how to take the lock off, or this could have been a tragedy,” said Earl Woodham, a spokesman in Charlotte for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

The authorities are investigating whether Ms. Boland was required to disclose her history of mental illness when she bought the gun. A small firearms store in Walterboro, 50 miles from Charleston, sold her the Taurus PT-22 pistol on Feb. 1. She filled out a federal background check form and was approved. 

She appeared to have bought the gun legally, Mr. Woodham said. Gun buyers nationwide are required to disclose mental illnesses only if they have been committed to an institution or found “mentally defective” by a judge, he said. 

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who are mentally unstable but who would not technically be declared mentally defective,” he said. 

Ms. Boland’s 2005 brush with law enforcement came when she became upset with the slow process of getting through Customs in Montreal. 

“I am going to kill President Bush with a gun,” she said, according to federal court papers. “Just give me a gun. I am going to come back and shoot you all.” 

The federal charges were dropped after she pleaded not guilty by reason of mental incompetence. ... 

Parents were grateful for the quick action by administrators, who used a well-rehearsed emergency plan to secure the campus and stalled Ms. Boland at the gate. Two weeks ago, in response to the Newtown, Conn., massacre, the police met with school officials to rehearse the protocol for a school shooting. 

The mayor of Charleston, Joseph P. Riley Jr., said that the incident was a “wake-up call” and that he would encourage South Carolina legislators to tighten restrictions on background checks for mental illness. 

“If you threaten to kill a president of the United States, so many alarm bells should sound when you go to buy a gun,” he said. “We could easily be talking about a homicide or multiple homicide. It’s a miracle we’re not.”

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3-year old South Carolina boy killed when playing with pink handgun

Tmorej Smith, age 3

3-year old Tmorej Smith and his 7-year old sister were in their parents' bedroom in their Greenville, South Carolina apartment when they found a loaded, unsecured gun and began playing with it.

One of them discharged the gun, and a round hit Tmorej in the head, killing him.

The parents were gone at the time, but their grandparents were in another room of the apartment.

No charges have been filed.

From an article and news video:

Police responded to a call about a shooting at Haywood Plantation Apartments in Greenville, S.C., at 7:30 p.m. Friday night, the Associated Press reported. There, officers found 3-year-old Temorej Smith dead from a single gunshot wound to the head. 

On Monday, police reported that the shooting occurred while Smith and his 7-year-old sister were in a bedroom at home, playing with a pink handgun they might have thought was a toy, according to CBS local affiliate WCSC. 

"If you have guns, if you own guns mostly we would prefer you have them in a lock box," Johnathan Bragg of the Greenville Police Department told the news station. "At least have them out of the reach of children." 

Smith lived in the apartment with his parents, grandparents and sister. The parents were not home at the time of the shooting, the county's deputy coroner Jeff Fowler told Greenville Online. 

The shooting has been ruled an accident. No charges have been filed yet, but the investigation is ongoing.

The gun was pink, and could have been mistaken as a toy.  This is the risk of making lethal weapons "cute."

(a related article)

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

12-year old South Carolina girl and other children threatened by home invader

A man with a shotgun kicked in the door of a home in Rock Hill, South Carolina.  He then pointed his shotgun at a 12-year old girl while demanding money from the girl's mother.  Other children were present at the time.  

The gun misfired at one point, but only hit a pillow.  In the end, nothing was stolen and, luckily, no one was injured.

From an article:

Around 5:30 p.m., police went to a home on the 1100 block of Ellen Avenue after receiving calls about a burglary. There, they spoke with a 34-year-old woman who said she and her youngest daughter, 7, saw a “figure” walk by her front window, according to a Rock Hill police report. When they went to investigate, they saw a man near the backdoor. 

When she asked the person what he was doing, the man pointed a shotgun at her. She slammed the door, grabbed the child and ran into her daughter’s room, where other children were sleeping, the report states. 

The man, wearing a panda mask, kicked in the door, breaking the locks, and ran into the room before demanding that the woman give him money. The gunman held his weapon at the 12-year-old girl when her cell phone lit up, according to the report. When he tried to rack the gun, a bullet fired and hit a pillow on the bed. He then left when the older woman told the girl to call the police.

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/01/07/4525244/police-man-points-gun-at-child.html#storylink=cpy

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8-year old South Carolina boy unintentionally shot and killed by father cleaning rifle

Easton Brueger, age 8

An 8-year old boy, Easton Brueger, was at home in Bennettsville, South Carolina, while his father was cleaning his rifle.  The father, Justin Brueger, had the rifle pointed at the son and unintentionally discharged it, hitting his son in the stomach.  The boy later died from his wound.

The father is now being charged.

From an article:

The State Law Enforcement Division has charged 30-year-old Justin Brueger of Bennettsville with unlawful conduct toward a child for the December 30 shooting death of 8-year-old Easton Brueger. Police claim Justin was cleaning his rifle when it accidentally discharged, hitting Easton in the stomach. The boy later died of his injuries at a local hospital.

According to the State Police warrant, Justin placed his son at "unreasonable risk of harm" by pointing the weapon in the boy's direction while cleaning it.

"I want to say I'm very sorry to my son," a distraught Brueger told the court at his arraignment on Wednesday.

Judge Robert Stanton placed Brueger on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond and ordered all guns removed from his Fayetteville Avenue home. He was also ordered to stay away from Easton's mother and her family.

Easton was a third grader at Marlboro Academy and attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Clio. He liked playing with his cousins, riding four-wheelers, fishing, being outside, playing video games and playing with Legos and Nerf guns. He loved his pet dog Buddy, who he personally rescued.

Easton is at least the third child to be killed by accidental gunfire in recent weeks. On Christmas Day, 2-year-old Sincere Tymere Smith, also of South Carolina, shot himself dead with his father's gun in the family's Conway home. On December 18, South Dakota teen Dalton Williams was shot dead by friend Braiden McCahren during horseplay. And on December 15, 3-year-old Ryder Rozier shot and killed himself with a gun he found in the home of his uncle, an Oklahoma state policeman.

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8 year old South Carolina boy shot by family member

It was not a good New Year's Eve for this family. An 8 year old South Carolina boy was shot and killed accidentally by a family member. From an article:

Bennettsville Police were called to a home on Fayetteville Avenue, December 30, for an eight year boy who was shot.

LT. Larry Turner said the child was accidentally by a family member.  The child was taken by ambulance to Marlboro Park Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Marlboro County Coroner Tim Brown, identified the child as Easton Brudger, from Clio.  He said Brudger was visiting his father in Bennettsville.  He died from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

No charges have been filed yet by the Bennettsville Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The investigation continues.

2-year old South Carolina boy gets loaded gun and kills himself

Sincere Smith, age 2

A loaded, unsecured gun was left on a table at a home in Conway, South Carolina.  A 2-year old boy in the home found the gun and unintentionally shot himself in the chest, dying soon after.

From an article:

Authorities say a 2-year-old boy died on Christmas Day after he grabbed a loaded gun left on a table in a home in Conway and shot himself.

Horry County Police said Wednesday they arrested the 30-year-old man who brought the gun into the home. Rondell Smith is charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Investigators say the boy found the gun on the table around 6 p.m. Tuesday and shot himself in the chest. He died on the way to the hospital. His name has not been released because all his relatives have not been notified.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

UPDATE (12/30/12):  The deceased boy's name is Sincere Smith, and his father, Rondell, blames himself and is inconsolable after he allowed the gun to get into his son's hands.  From an article:

The boy’s father, Rondell Smith, paced in circles in front of his mother-in-law’s home, tears streaming down his face, saying over and over, “My son is gone. My son is gone.” 

He was inconsolable by family.

“I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. … I miss his voice. I hear him calling me. I held him close,” Smith said. “Why couldn’t it be me?” 

Nearly 48 hours prior, 2-year-old Sincere Smith got hold of his father’s gun that was sitting on a table and shot himself. He died en route to Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. A senseless accident, the boy’s family said. .... 

Sincere, who would have turned 3 in March, is remembered as a good big brother who was protective of his 9-month-old sister Samiya and loved McDonald’s french fries and Nick Jr. – especially “Jack’s Big Music Show.” 

“He would sing and dance. He sang every song. He knew every song,” said LaKisha Brown Smith, Sincere’s mother. “He was very smart. He knew all of his colors and he knew how to count forwards and backwards.” ....

Smith, 30, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and released from jail Wednesday on a $500 bond. He said no punishment by the law would suffice.
“Going to jail ain’t even enough,” he said. “Whatever’s coming to me is coming to me.” 

Tears steadily ran down Smith’s face as he recalled the day his son died. About two weeks ago, Smith said someone tried to break into his home while he and his family were there. He said he felt like he was nothing because we wouldn’t have been able to protect his family. So he got a gun. 

Brown Smith left for work around 6 p.m. and Smith called her shortly after she left.
“The phone went straight to voicemail. By the time I stopped calling and turned around, he’d killed both of us,” he said of the gun going off in Sincere’s hands.
Gaskin said she hopes the family will be able to hold Sincere’s memorial service on Monday at Mason Temple in Conway, but she had to special order a casket small enough to hold him. 

“I got his outfit today,” she said on Thursday. “It’s an all-white suit.”

Read more here: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/12/27/3241835/father-charged-in-christmas-shooting.html#storylink=cpy

(a related article)
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7-year old South Carolina girl injured during shooting at home

The house of a 7-year old girl, as well as the neighbor's home, in Colleton County, South Carolina, was shot at multiple times from outside the homes.  The girl was wounded by flying glass debris.  Her mother was shot in the foot. An adult male in the home was shot multiple times in the leg.

From an article:

Stanfield said a 48-year-old male victim was shot in the leg multiple times.  He was taken to Medical University of South Carolina for treatment. 

The woman was treated for a gunshot wound to her foot at Colleton Medical Center, while her 7-year-old daughter was treated for a cut on her head, apparently caused by shattered glass from a television which sustained damage, according to Stanfield. 

The victims said they were watching television when the shots hit the house, and Stanfield said the house next door was also struck by several rounds, although no one was injured.

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7-year old child unintentionally shot with shotgun in leg

A child in Florence County, South Carolina, was unintentionally shot by his or her father with a shotgun.  The child was shot in the leg and is in serious, but not life-threatening condition.

From an article:

The shooting occurred at the child's father's home at the 1400 block of Willow Trace Drive in Florence at around 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept 8, and there were several people in the home at the time. 

Capt. Michael Nunn with the Florence County Sheriff's Office says the shooting appears to be accidental and the child was not the intended victim. Investigators say they are continuing to question the witnesses at the scene. Nunn said right now it's unclear whether or not the shooter had a different, intended victim in mind. 

Neighbors who also live on Willow Trace Drive have differing opinions of the safety of their neighborhood. 

"It's real sad because I've got kids, I've got grandkids. It's something very devastating, so I'm sorry to hear that. Back here's a nice, quiet place to live. Never have no problem back here," Willow Trace Drive Resident Alexander McCrea said. 

"We fear for our lives here. I'm not comfortable, none of us are. I have a grandson to worry about, it's just very upsetting to hear and to see these things going on and you know a few months back a baby overdosed on cocaine, nine months old," Willow Trace Drive Resident Electra Smith said. 

The child was struck by the pellets in the leg. The child's injuries are serious but not life-threatening. 

Nunn tells WMBF News that investigators are still gathering more details on the incident and that criminal charges are possible.

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8-year old South Carolina boy killed in crossfire

Khalil Singleton, age 8

8-year old Khalil Singleton was playing in his front yard when a gun battle erupted nearby, where the shooters were firing at each other's cars.  

One of those bullets hit Khalil, killing him in his yard.

Four suspects have been arrested.

From an article:

Khalil Singleton was playing outside a residence when shots were fired among a group in the area, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Sgt. Robin McIntosh said in a news release Saturday. 

Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue Division personnel arrived to find the child laying wounded in the front yard. 

He was taken to Hilton Head Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to Beaufort County Coroner David Ott. No other injuries were reported, the Sheriff's Office said. 

Investigators have identified 19-year old Aaron Young Jr.; his father, Aaron Young Sr., 36; Jontu Singleton, 35; and Tyrone Robinson, 37, as persons of interest in the shooting, according to a second news release early Sunday morning. 

The Youngs have been arrested and each charged with one count of discharging a firearm into a vehicle after multiple rounds were fired into Robinson’s vehicle, part of an ongoing feud among the men, the release said. Robinson’s vehicle was parked on Allen Road and was unoccupied at the time of the shooting. Investigators believe the shooting victim was struck during gunfire exchanged between Robinson and the Youngs. 

Robinson and Singleton have been arrested on unrelated, second-degree burglary charges for a break-in at Top Dollar Pawn Shop occurring on Aug. 19. Robinson has also been charged with pointing and presenting a firearm for an earlier incident involving him and Young Sr. on Wildhorse Road. During that incident, Robinson and Young Sr. got into a fight, during which Robinson brandished a handgun, the Sheriff's Office says. As the men struggled, the weapon went off, but no one was shot.

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/09/01/2194444/eight-year-old-boy-shot-to-death.html#storylink=cpy

(a related article, which includes more information on the extensive arrest record of the shooters)

Bullets don't know when to stop.

17-year old girl shot to death while involved in armed home invasion

Emani Puckett, age 17

A 17-year old girl, Emani Puckett, invaded a home in Anderson, South Carolina, with two men.  They attacked the home owner, and a shootout occurred.  Emani was shot and soon died from her wounds, her semi-auto handgun at her side.


The homeowner was hit in the head but is fine.  The two men with Emani escaped, but their names are known to law enforcement.


From an article:

The teenager, Emani Puckett, entered a home on Burris Street in west Anderson along with two men on Sunday night, according to a deputy’s report. 

They had come to rob homeowner Kevin Pierce, 21, who was hit in the head with a handgun by someone in the group, Pierce told deputies. 

Pierce and Puckett struggled in the kitchen while the other men rummaged through the house. In the altercation, Puckett was shot several times, the two men and Pierce’s girlfriend fled the home. 

Puckett was found, barely alive, outside of the mobile home next to a semi-automatic pistol and she died hours later at AnMed Health Medical Center. Pierce was taken to AnMed Health Medical Center, too, and released. 

The other two men fled the home, said Chad McBride, spokesman for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

According to another article and video, Emani may have been shot with her own weapon after one of the homeowners wrestled it out of her hands.


Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

(image from HERE)

2-year-old finds deputy's gun, unintentionally shoots and kills himself

2-year-old Josiah Tate, of Anderson, South Carolina, was at home when he found a loaded, unlocked handgun in a bedroom. According to news reports, the gun belonged to an Anderson County deputy sheriff who lived at the home. Apparently, the deputy put his gun on a bedroom counter and left to run errands. The local coroner told reporters that Josiah's mother saw him playing with the gun just seconds before he was shot:

"She saw him playing with it, and before she could get over to him to take it away from him, he pulled the trigger," said the coroner. "this appears to be an accidental shooting....a horrible, horrible accident."
Josiah was taken to AnMed Health Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the head, but died a short time later.
A neighbor, who also babysits for the boy, told reporters, "It was just a few hours ago that I teased him about needing to have his shoes on before he could go home. He can't be gone. It doesn't feel real that such a precious baby should be gone."

5-year old girl gets hold of gun and shoots herself to death in South Carolina

Sha'Diamond Graham, age 5

A 5-year old girl, Sha'Diamond Graham, was visiting the home of a friend when they found a loaded, unsecured gun.  One of them discharged the gun, and Sha'Diamond was shot and killed.

From an article:

A 5-year-old Hartsville girl died Sunday night after what appears to be an accidental shooting, according to a press release from the Darlington County Sheriff's Office.

Sha'Diamond Graham died when the gun she was said to have been playing with at a friend's house, fired, according to Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee.

Details are limited, according to the DCSO release, but it appears to be an accidental shooting.

Darlington County investigators, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and South Carolina Department of Social Services are investigating the shooting death at happened about 7 p.m.

Officials said children were playing in the house (700 block of Mcfarland Street in Hartsville) and found the gun. The gun went off and the 5-year-old was shot. She was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead by Hardee.

From a related article:

Graham's oldest sister, Cameka, says her sister was an upbeat child who had a knack for cheering people up.

"If you were going through something, she felt like she could feel it," Cameka Graham said. "She would tell you 'it'll be okay" or 'it'll be alright'."
....
[Sheriff's Captain] Locklair says this incident underscores the need for gun safety, especially considering the high availability of inexpensive or free gun locks.

To obtain a free gun safety lock for a firearm in your area, click on the link below:
http://www.projectchildsafe.org/safetyKits/

Always ASK about guns where your children play.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

UPDATE (7/11/12):  A man, Clinton McPhail, has been charged in Sha'Diamond's death.