7-Year-Old Girl Fatally Shot By 5-Year-Old Boy at Birthday Party: Who’s Responsible?

A celebration that began as a child’s birthday party ended with a fatal tragedy. According to the Associated Press, a 5-year-old boy accidentally shot a 7-year-old girl in the chest, and wounded another little boy.

The devastating incident took place in Gaston, SC on Saturday, Apr. 12. Both children were immediately transported to a local hospital following the incident. While the little boy only suffered minor, non life-threatening injuries after being grazed by fragments from the shot, the little girl, who has been identified as Juliet Noel Lynch, was pronounced dead.

The Lexington County Police Department released a statement with a detailed account of the fatal incident. According to the police report, investigators stated that the 5-year-old boy went to the trunk of his mother’s car to retrieve one his toys. Unfortunately, he spotted the weapon instead. When he took the gun out and began playing with it, a shot fired from the chamber toward the front of the vehicle where Lynch and the other boy were playing. His mother stated that she had no knowledge of the weapon being in the trunk of the car.

“The gun went off in the trunk of the car, went through the vehicle, and on the other side, there were some children playing — a 7-year-old girl — one of the bullet fragments hit her in the chest and she was killed and another bullet fragment hit a 5-year-old boy in his right arm,” said Lexington County Sheriff James Metts.

Although the fatal shooting has been declared an accident, Lynch’s family is already demanding answers in regards to who will be held responsible for the little girl’s death. Lynch’s father, Corey Salley has raised a plausible question and demands some form of explanation from local police.

“I just want justice done. I can’t blame the little boy. He’s a kid himself, but the adults that were there, whoever had what gun, they need to go to jail,” he said.

Police have stated that charges could still be filed. However, that has not been confirmed. The names of the boy, his mother and her boyfriend have not been released.

Now, the parents of the deceased child are left wondering how they’ll explain to her twin sister that she will never be coming home. Although the 5-year-old boy pulled the trigger, who do you think should be held accountable for the little girl’s death?

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