14-year-old girl accidentally shoots self, dies while filming social media video
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A teenage girl in Washington, D.C., died after accidentally shooting herself while recording a video for social media, police said.
The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPD) announced the 14-year-old girl's death, which occurred around 5:09 p.m. on May 21. After receiving reports of a shooting, MPD officers responded to the girl's residence in northeast Washington, D.C., according to the department.
When officers arrived at the apartment, they found the girl inside suffering from a gunshot wound, police said. Although lifesaving measures were performed, the girl succumbed to her injuries, the department added.
'This is a devastating reminder of the dangers of weapons getting into the hands of young people in our city, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the decedent,' Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith said in a statement. 'Firearms are not toys or props and they must be properly secured in a place where they can only be accessed by lawful gun owners.'
More news: Human remains found by hunter belong to missing Utah woman who disappeared in 2023
Was an adult in the home during the shooting?
Police said their preliminary investigation indicates that the unidentified teen was handling a gun while recording her social media video when the firearm went off and struck her in the upper body.
According to the department, multiple people, including at least one adult, were inside the apartment when the shooting happened. The gun used in the incident has been recovered, police said.
How common are unintentional child gun deaths?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compiles data on unintentional child gun deaths. The most recent data released on the issue is from 2023.
Data from that year shows that 143 people ages 19 and younger died from unintentional injury from a firearm.
A 2023 study done by the CDC found that roughly three-quarters of unintentional child gun deaths between 2003 and 2021 involved a firearm that was stored loaded and unlocked.
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com.
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