Four-yr-old shoots baby sister dead

Nov 25, 2009 News

-parents detained

The mining community of Mahdia, Region Seven, went into shock yesterday after a five-year old boy shot his 11-month old sister dead with an unlicenced gun that was left unattended in their home.
Little Clemona Patterson was killed instantly when the bullet from a .38 revolver struck her at point blank range in the head.
Police sources told Kaieteur News that the weapon was left unattended by the children’s father who is said to be a miner in the gold fields that surround the community.
According to reports, the children’s father claimed that he had found the weapon near a mining camp and was taking it to the police.
However he made a stop home and left the weapon on a table. One report is that the weapon was in a bag. The miner and his wife then reportedly went downstairs.
It is alleged that the five-year-old picked up the weapon which had one live round. He then pulled the trigger, shooting his baby sister in the head.
The miner has reportedly alleged that he was outside the house when the incident occurred.
A resident told Kaieteur News that she was in her house when she heard a gunshot.
She then heard the occupants of the house screaming. Police arrived shortly after and removed the child’s body from the scene, while taking her parents into custody. Police are said to be investigating reports that the five-year-old who attends a primary school in the community, was found with a live round by teachers some time last week.
Both parents are in police custody assisting with the investigations.