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Topics: California, Parenting, News, US News
Niamh Shackleton
A 22-year-old mom has died after being shot by her toddler.
On December 6, Jessinya Mina was shot in the upper body by her two-year-old son in a freak accident, police say.
After police arrived at the scene, the mom-of-two was transported to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, California, for treatment, but she sadly died of her injuries.
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As how to how the fatal incident occurred, it's reported that Mina's boyfriend Andrew Sanchez, 18, left a loaded gun on their bed.
Frenso Police Department said in a statement shared to social media: "Homicide detectives learned Mina lived at the location with her boyfriend, 18-year-old Andrew Sanchez, and two young children. Mina’s children are an eight-month-old infant and a two-and-a-half-year-old toddler.
"Detectives learned Sanchez negligently left his loaded 9mm handgun in a location within their bedroom, where children were able to access it.
"While handling the firearm, the toddler was able to pull the trigger, resulting in Mina being struck. Sanchez was detained on scene and interviewed by detectives."
Sanchez was booked into Fresno County Jail for one count of felony child endangerment and felony criminal storage of a firearm.
Lt. Paul Cervantes said in a news conference that Sanchez had given a statement which said 'he was, in fact, responsible for placing the weapon in a location where it could be accessed', PEOPLE reports, and the 18-year-old, who has no criminal history, has since posted bail.
In the wake of the young mom's tragic passing, her sister Jessica Rodriguez has paid tribute to her and expressed her frustrations at Sanchez's apparent 'carelessness'.
"My sister was a young mother of two beautiful children who should've been given the opportunity to spend a long happy life with them," she told ABC 30 Action News.
"She was 22 years old, she was in the process of going back to cosmetology school and finishing her career.
"She was loving, caring, and always gave selflessly away whenever she had the opportunity."
Speaking of Sanchez, Mina's grieving sister went on: "Now because of her boyfriend's carelessness, his arrogance, his irresponsibility, and neglecting my sister's wishes of never having a gun in her house, she's gone forever.
"My niece and nephew will have to live off of memories and stories of my sister rather than her presence.
"We will never be able to witness my sister carry out her lifelong goals and accomplishments due to his negligence. My sister didn't deserve this."
While the situation 'appears to be a tragedy', Lt. Cervantes added that an investigation into the incident is currently ongoing, which also includes forensically analysing the evidence and Mina's autopsy, PEOPLE further reports.
UNILAD have approached Fresno Police Department for further comment.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.