Authorities in Fresno, California, confirmed that a tragic accidental shooting last week resulted in the death of 22-year-old Jessinya Mina, who was fatally shot by her 3-year-old son. The incident occurred Friday night at the Butterfly Grove apartment complex at Fresno Street and San Jose Avenue.
According to the Fresno Police Department, Mina’s toddler accessed an unsecured firearm inside the apartment and accidentally discharged it while lying in bed. “The firearm was stored in a location where the child accessed the firearm, and at some point, over time, while handling that particular weapon, the child was able to manipulate the trigger, and actually struck Mina.” said Lt. Paul Cervantes of the Fresno Police Department.
Mina’s 18-year-old boyfriend, Andrew Sanchez, attempted to transport her to the hospital, but first responders arrived and took over. Despite their efforts, Mina later died in the hospital. Mina’s sister revealed to Action News that Mina had previously asked Sanchez not to keep a gun in the house, a request he reportedly ignored.
Now, due to her boyfriend’s carelessness, his arrogance, his irresponsibility, and neglecting my sister’s wishes to never have a gun in her house, she is gone forever.
Jessica Rodríguez, sister of the victim
Sanchez was arrested and charged with negligent storage of a firearm and felony child endangerment. While he has been released on bail, ABC30 legal analyst Tony Capozzi indicated the charges could lead to a serious sentence if convicted.
“I would see felony charges in this particular case…and if convicted, it’s 2, 4, or 6 years in state prison,” Capozzi explained. The case will require prosecutors to examine several forms of evidence, including possible evidence of gunshot residue on the boy’s hands.
Full statement:
“My sister was a young mother of two beautiful children who should have had the opportunity to spend a long happy life with them. She was 22 years old, in the process of going back to cosmetology school and finishing her degree. She was loving and caring, and always gave selflessly whenever she had the chance. She was a mother, a sister, an aunt, a godmother, a best friend who was always there for everyone. He was a beautiful soul who touched the lives of anyone he encountered. She was beautiful and fun and could put a smile on anyone’s face, anyone who met her was truly blessed by her presence. Now, due to her boyfriend’s carelessness, his arrogance, his irresponsibility, and neglecting my sister’s wishes to never have a gun in her house, she is gone forever. My niece and nephew will have to live on memories and stories of my sister instead of her presence. We will never be able to witness my sister carry out her lifelong goals and achievements due to her negligence. My sister didn’t deserve this.”
Fresno police emphasized the importance of safe gun storage to prevent tragedies like this. Officer Luke Tran demonstrated the effectiveness of gun locks, saying“When you have it stored like this, this gun won’t fire because you can’t load ammunition in it. When you don’t have a lock, it can be triggered.”
Lieutenant Cervantes offered a grim reminder: “Do it in a way that children won’t access it. For kids watching this or hearing this, if you see a gun, leave it alone, don’t touch it, tell an adult.” The Fresno Police Department is offering free gun locks at their headquarters as part of a effort to promote firearms safety.
A gofundme has been established to help with funeral expenses and to support Mina’s two surviving children. This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible gun ownership and storage.