In a tragic incident in Northern California, a 2-year-old toddler fatally shot his 22-year-old mother inside their family apartment. The mother, Jessinya Mina, died from a single gunshot wound to her upper body. The woman’s boyfriend, Andrew Sanchez, was arrested on charges of felony negligent storage of a firearm and felony child endangerment. Sanchez had left his loaded 9mm handgun unsecured in the bedroom, where the toddler was able to access it and pull the trigger.
The incident was deemed preventable by police, who emphasized the importance of proper firearm storage in households with children. This shooting occurred just days after another tragic incident where a 7-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his 2-year-old brother in California, and a 3-year-old accidentally shot and injured a 1-year-old sibling in North Carolina.
The importance of safe firearm storage is highlighted by statistics showing that nearly half of unintentional firearm injury deaths among children happen at home while playing with or showing firearms to others. Recommendations from the California Attorney General’s Office include storing firearms unloaded, locked, and in a separate location from ammunition.
The victim’s family has set up an online fundraiser to cover funeral costs, describing Mina as a loving mother full of life. The children are now with the victim’s parents, and the case is being investigated by authorities.
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