MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Charges against a Memphis man have been dismissed in the case where a 9-year-old girl was accidentally shot and killed by her 7-year-old brother while he was playing with a gun, according to court records.
Police said the man owned the gun used in the shooting. He was originally charged with criminally negligent homicide, aggravated child abuse, and convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Court records show only the criminally negligent homicide charge was sent to the grand jury in March 2024, and the charge was dismissed in July due to a "dismissed warrant."
Officers responded to a shooting call at East Biscayne Rd. at 3:06 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, 2023, MPD said.
According to MPD, when officers arrived at the scene, they found an unresponsive 9-year-old girl lying near a 2016 Buick Encore. She was transported to Le Bonheur in critical condition, but she later died due to her injuries.
The young girl's mother and her boyfriend were brought into the Homicide office, the affidavit said.
The boyfriend told officers his girlfriend's son came inside the home telling them both that he accidentally shot his sister, and the man said he found the 9-year-old girl lying by the Buick when he went outside, the affidavit said.
The man said the young boy accessed the gun from his glove box, the affidavit said.
Memphis Police tell ABC24 that gun locks are available at all precincts, and the precincts are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.