A Georgia mother left her two children alone in the car for just moments last Monday when the vehicle wouldn’t start in the driveway.
She couldn’t have guessed that a tragic accident was about to occur inside the vehicle. The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement:
The mother exited the vehicle to see if she could figure out what was wrong with the car and that is when she heard the shot.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the mom was just outside the car when her 4-year-old son managed to grab a loaded gun out of the center console.
The young boy then accidentally discharged the weapon, hitting his 6-year-old sister, Millie Drew Kelly, in the head.
The girl was rushed to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in critical condition but was not able to survive her injuries.
Sheriff Gary Gulledge said in a statement, according to AJC:
“Our hearts break for this family and we hope God puts his healing hands around them during this difficult time.”
A GoFundMe started for the family states that the child’s organs were donated in order to help save other lives. It reads:
Millie Drew gave life today by donating her organs to continue to show the love of Jesus, whom she loved with everything that she had. The outpouring of love shown towards the Kelly family from friends and community is exactly what being the hands and feet of Christ is.
According to Giffords Law Center, unsecured weapons put children at high risk of an accidental shooting. A 2018 study found that 4.6 million children in the United States were in a home with at least one unsecured but loaded weapon.
Guns kept in cars should be put in a car safe, not in the glove box or center console where it can be accessed by thieves or unsuspecting children.
Police said no charges will be charged in Millie Drew’s death. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $38,000 for the family so far.