A young California mother was tragically shot and killed by her two-year-old son after the toddler found a loaded gun in the woman’s bedroom.
Jessinya Mina, 22, of northeast Fresno, was shot by her son in her Butterfly Grove apartment while she lay in bed Friday just before 5:30 p.m.
Police responded to the apartment complex, where they discovered Mina with a single gunshot wound to her upper body.
The fatal accident occurred after Mina’s boyfriend, 18-year-old Andrew Sanchez, who also lives in the home, negligently left the 9mm handgun in the couple’s bedroom. Fresno police said.
Sanchez and their other roommates were taking Mina to the hospital when first responders intervened and transported her to Community Regional Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries shortly afterwards.
Sanchez, who has no prior criminal history, was taken into custody and booked into the Fresno County Jail for negligent storage of a firearm and child endangerment, but has since been bailed out.
“It’s difficult because we have to grapple with the idea that it is even conceivable that a two-and-a-half-year-old child would have enough strength to handle a firearm,” Lt. Paul Cervantes said at a news conference.
“The firearm was stored in a location where the toddler had access to the firearm,” he added.
Jessinya Mina, 22, of northeast Fresno, California, was shot and killed Friday by her two-year-old son as she lay in bed in her apartment
Mina was discovered shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Friday with a single gunshot wound to her upper body at the hands of her toddler
The fatal accident occurred after 18-year-old Andrew Sanchez, who also lives at the home, negligently left a loaded 9mm handgun unsecured in their bedroom.
“And at some point, while wielding that particular weapon, the toddler was able to manipulate the trigger, and it actually struck Mina while she was in bed.”
The firearm was found at the scene and has since been seized as evidence.
Mina’s sister, Jessica Rodriguez, said ABC30 that the tragedy could have been avoided if Sánchez had simply respected her sister’s requests.
“Because of her boyfriend’s carelessness, his arrogance, his irresponsibility and ignoring my sister’s wishes to never have a gun in her home, she is gone forever,” Rodriguez said.
Mina, who was also the mother of an eight-month-old girl, was in the process of going back to cosmetology school and finishing her career.
She was described as a “beautiful mother” who touched the lives of everyone she encountered.
“My sister was a young mother of two beautiful children who should have had the opportunity to spend a long, happy life with them,” Rodriguez added.
“She was loving, caring and always gave selflessly whenever she had the opportunity.”
When officers arrived at the Butterfly Grove apartment complex, Sanchez and the couple’s other roommates were taking Mina to the hospital before first responders took over.
Mina was transported to Community Regional Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries
The young mother, who was about to return to cosmetology school, had a two-year-old son and an eight-month-old daughter who are now in the care of her family.
Police and prosecutors are working together to decide what charges would be appropriate for Sanchez in Mina’s death, KY3 reported.
‘I can’t imagine this case being a crime; If that is the case, I would see a misdemeanor charge in this particular case,” Tony Capozzi, a legal analyst, told ABC30.
“And if he’s convicted, it’s two, four or six years in state prison,” he added.
Capozzi also noted that prosecutors will have to sift through a variety of evidence during their investigation.
“If it was a young boy, check for gunshot residue on his hands,” Capozzi said.
“So there’s a lot of things that need to be investigated and set aside before they actually file charges that they believe is negligent handling of the firearm.”
The deadly incident is a reminder that how a gun is stored – which must be stored responsibly when loaded – can be the difference between life and death.
“If you don’t have a lock like that, it can be fired, it can be loaded.” Luke Tran, a Fresno police officer, told ABC30.
Family members said the tragedy would never have happened if Sánchez had respected his girlfriend’s requests not to have a gun in the house.
Sanchez, who has no prior criminal history, was taken into custody that night and booked into the Fresno County Jail for negligent storage of a firearm and child endangerment, but has since been bailed out.
Jessica Rodriguez, Mina’s sister, has since set up a GoFundMe to raise money for funeral costs
The Fresno Police Department noted that it is providing free gun locks to those who need the security measure.
Officers are also seeking more information about the gun through an ‘eTrace’ after discovering it did not return a hit in the system – meaning investigators do not know whether it was registered to a specific person or stolen.
“Tragedies like this, as I said, cause a ripple effect for loved ones and leave an indelible mark on our community,” Cervantes added.
A GoFundMe has now been founded by Mina’s sister to raise money for funeral costs.
“My niece and nephew will have to live on memories and stories of my sister instead of her presence,” Rodriguez added in a statement. Your central valley.
“We will never be able to see my sister achieve her lifelong goals and achievements because of his negligence.”
Both of Mina’s children are now staying with her parents.