A Philadelphia man is facing charges following the tragic death of a 7-year-old girl in what police describe as an accidental shooting on Sunday afternoon.
Police responded to an apparent accidental shooting call around 2:30 p.m. at a home on the 3800 block of I Street, where they discovered young Mia Andujar with a gunshot wound to the face. She was immediately taken to St. Christophers Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after, at 2:39 p.m.
Authorities report that two adults were on the first floor, while three children, including Mia, were upstairs at the time of the incident. Inspector D.F. Pace of the Philadelphia Police Department suggested the shooting was accidental. Mia may have picked up the gun herself, or it could have been fired by a 2-year-old child who was also in the room.
Both the homeowner and the guns owner were detained after the incident. On Monday, 24-year-old Alan Nguyen was formally charged with involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment, and reckless endangerment.
Police have not yet confirmed Nguyens ownership of the gun or his connection to Mia Andujar. The status of the second person detained remains unclear as the investigation continues.
Inspector Pace urged all gun owners to keep firearms securely stored and out of reach of young children, stressing the importance of responsible gun storage.