4-year-old girl shot to death by 3-year-old girl while playing at her Houston home

A 3-year-old found a loaded gun in a Texas home and accidentally shot and killed a 4-year-old while they were playing in her bedroom.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the girls were inside an apartment on Bammel North Houston Road, where they lived with their parents and other relatives.

According to authorities, the preliminary investigation showed that the two boys had been inside an apartment with five family members and friends and that the parents of each of the two girls believed that the other was watching them. Instead, they were left unattended and picked up a loaded, “unsecured” semi-automatic handgun.

A 3-year-old girl found a loaded gun in a Texas home and accidentally shot her sister, killing the 4-year-old on Sunday, an official says. https://t.co/4vmiT5t5U5

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 13, 2023

Family members heard a gunshot and ran into the room to find that the girl had apparently accidentally shot her sister, Gonzalez said.

In a desperate attempt, the parents immediately called 911, however the girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Harris County District Attorney's Office will decide whether any of the adults will face charges based on the police investigation, which is still in the preliminary phase, Gonzalez said.

“Our hearts are broken. Our officers are pretty shaken up,” Gonzalez said, noting that support staff would be on scene to help officers and family members.

“The community is affected when a child loses his life in this way,” said González, adding that the shooting was another preventable death with a firearm.

“We continue to send the message that this is very preventable,” González said. “You have to make sure that you are a responsible gun owner and keep your guns in a safe place. It has to be more than just telling little kids not to touch guns. You know, we have to do a little more. We see far too many tragic situations like this unfold.”