By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-10 19:07:22 | Updated at 2024-12-26 04:32:35
2 weeks ago
A young California mother was tragically shot dead by her two-year-old son after the toddler found a loaded gun in the woman's bedroom.
Jessinya Mina, 22, of northeast Fresno, was shot by her boy at her Butterfly Grove apartment while lying in bed just before 5:30pm Friday.
Police responded to the apartment complex, where they discovered Mina with a single gunshot wound to her upper body.
The fatal accident came after Mina's boyfriend, 18-year-old Andrew Sanchez, who also lives at the residence, negligently left the 9mm handgun unsecured and accessible in the couple's bedroom, the Fresno Police Department said.
Sanchez and their other roommates were in the process of taking Mina to the hospital when first responders stepped in and transported her to Community Regional Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries shortly after.
Sanchez, who has no prior criminal history, was taken into custody and booked into Fresno County jail for negligent storage of a firearm and felony child endangerment, but has since bailed out.
'It's difficult because we are having to wrestle with the idea that it's even conceivable that a two-and-a-half-year-old child would have sufficient strength to manipulate a firearm,' Lt. Paul Cervantes said during a press conference.
'The firearm was stored in a location where the toddler accessed the firearm,' he added.
Jessinya Mina, 22, of northeast Fresno in California, was shot and killed on Friday by her two-year-old son while lying in bed in her apartment
Mina was discovered with a single gunshot wound to her upper body at the hands of her toddler shortly after 5:30pm Friday
The fatal accident came after 18-year-old Andrew Sanchez, who also lives at the residence, negligently left behind a loaded 9mm handgun unsecured in their bedroom
'And at some point in time, while handling that particular weapon, the toddler was able to manipulate the trigger, and it actually struck Mina as she was lying in bed.'
The firearm was located at the scene and has since been seized as evidence.
Mina's sister, Jessica Rodriguez, told ABC30 that the tragedy could have been avoided if Sanchez simply respected her sister's requests.
'Now because of her boyfriend's carelessness, his arrogance, his irresponsibility and neglecting my sister's wishes of never having a gun in her house, she's gone forever,' Rodriguez said.
Mina, who was also mother to an eight-month-old girl, was in the process of going back to cosmetology school and finishing her career.
She was described as a 'beautiful mother' who touched the lives of every person she encountered.
'My sister was a young mother of two beautiful children who should've been given the opportunity to spend a long happy life with them,' Rodriguez added.
'She was loving, caring and always gave selflessly away whenever she had the opportunity.'
When officers arrived at the Butterfly Grove apartment complex, Sanchez and the pair's other roommates were in the process of taking Mina to the hospital before first responders took over
Mina was transported her to Community Regional Medical Center where she succumbed to her injuries
The young mother, who was in the process of going back to cosmetology school, had a two-year-old son and an eight-month-old daughter who are now under the care of her family
Police and prosecutors are working together to decide what charges would be appropriate for Sanchez following Mina's death, KY3 reported.
'I can't imagine this case being a misdemeanor; I would see felony charges in this particular case if that's the case,' Tony Capozzi, a legal analyst, told ABC30.
'And if he's convicted, it's two, four or six years in State prison,' he added.
Capozzi also noted that prosecutors will have to sort through a variety of evidence during their investigation.
'If it was a young boy, check for gunshot residue on his hands,' Capozzi said.
'So there are a lot of things that need to be investigated and put aside before they actually file the charges, which they think are the negligent handling of the firearm.'
The deadly incident is a reminder that how a gun is stored - which should be responsibly locked away if loaded - may be the difference between life and death.
'When you don't have a lock like this, it can be fired, it can be loaded,' Luke Tran, a Fresno police officer, told ABC30.
Family members said that the tragedy never would have happened if Sanchez respected his girlfriend's requests of not keeping a firearm inside the home
Sanchez, who has no prior criminal history, was taken into custody that night and booked into Fresno County jail for negligent storage of a firearm and felony child endangerment but has since bailed out
Jessica Rodriguez, Mina's sister, has since set up a GoFundMe to raise money for funeral costs
The Fresno Police Department noted that it provides free gun locks to those who are in need of the security measure.
Officers are also looking to find more information on the gun through an 'eTrace' after they discovered that it didn't come back to any hit in the system - meaning investigators don't know whether it was registered to any specific person or stolen.
'Tragedies such as this, as I mentioned, they cause a ripple effect for the loved ones and they leave an indelible mark on our community,' Cervantes added.
A GoFundMe has since been set up by Mina's sister to raise money for funeral expenses.
'My niece and nephew will have to live off of memories and stories of my sister rather than her presence,' Rodriguez added in a statement to Your Central Valley.
'We will never be able to witness my sister carry out her lifelong goals and accomplishments due to his negligence.'
Both of Mina's children are now staying with her parents.
