A 4-year-old girl was shot dead in a Northeast Philadelphia home late Monday night. The girl suffered a gunshot wound to her stomach. The Philadelphia Police considers that the shot was fired from inside the home on the 2900 block of Secane Drive .
She was taken to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital by her mother and uncle. She was pronounced dead around 12:13 a.m. Tuesday.
Several family members have been questioned by the police in order to clarify the unusual circumstances of the shooting.
When the shooting happened, there were four adults: the victim’s parents, a man, and a woman police said.
It is unclear who handled the firearm and whether it was accidentally discharged, Chief Inspector Scott Small told reporters.
Both the family’s home and the car used to take the girl to the hospital are under investigation.
A.357 revolver, which contained five live rounds and one fired shell casing was found in the house.
Law enforcement sources say officers also found drugs. The girl’s father, who has a drug conviction from Bucks County, is expected to be charged with weapons offenses. Officials say he illegally had a gun inside the home.
Police said that so far the investigation has determined that it is extremely unlikely that the victim had shot herself.
No one has been formally charged with the shooting, police said.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw declared about the shocking event that “the loss of a young life is especially tragic, particularly when it is the result of the irresponsible handling of a firearm. Our Homicide Unit is working diligently to ascertain all of the facts, and help ensure justice for the precious and innocent victim.”