Monday, October 10, 2011

Kids waiting in van for grandfather find handgun, 6-year-old unintentionally shot and killed

Robert Hill of Greenwood, South Carolina put his three great-grandchildren in his van, preparing to take them to breakfast before going to church Sunday morning. While the three children, ages 5, 6 and 7, were alone in the van waiting they found a handgun. The children started to play with the gun when it was unintentionally discharged. A bullet struck 6-year-old Zykria Hackett in the neck, killing her.
According to police the gun belonged to Zykria's mother, Jonnetta Jamison, who had driven the van the night before. She removed belongings from the glove compartment when she left the van and believed she had the gun with her. Police speculate that the weapon may have fallen to the floor where one of the children found it and picked it up.
Jamison said she had a panic attack and had to be taken to the hospital when she heard about her daughter's death. She had lost another child to illness and Zykria was her only living child.
Police were unclear if Jamison had a concealed weapons permit for the gun. South Carolina does not require a permit to have a handgun in a vehicle as long as it is "secured in a closed glove compartment, closed console, of closed trunk." Police don't expect to file charges in Zykria's death.

No comments:

Post a Comment