Crime
Alan Nguyen charged after 7-year-old Mia Andujar killed in an accidental shooting inside a Philadelphia home
Investigators are examining whether Mia accidentally fired the gun herself or if a nearby 2-year-old child may have discharged it.
A tragic incident unfolded in Philadelphia when a 7-year-old girl, Mia Andujar, lost her life in what police describe as an accidental shooting inside a residence on I Street.
Authorities responded to a call around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday and arrived to find Mia with a fatal gunshot wound to her face. Despite immediate transport to St. Christopher’s Hospital, she was pronounced dead shortly afterward at 2:39 p.m.
According to the Philadelphia Police Department, the incident occurred while two adults were downstairs and three young children, including Mia, were on the second floor.
Investigators are examining whether Mia accidentally fired the gun herself or if a nearby 2-year-old child may have discharged it.
Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace described the incident as a preventable tragedy, stressing the importance of responsible firearm storage, especially around children.
On Monday, authorities announced the arrest of 24-year-old Alan Nguyen in connection to the shooting.
He now faces charges including involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, and recklessly endangering another person.
Police are still determining if Nguyen owned the weapon involved or if he was the homeowner.
His relationship with Mia, if any, has yet to be clarified, and no information has been released regarding charges for the second adult who was detained.
As the investigation continues, Inspector Pace reiterated the importance of firearm safety, particularly in homes with children, urging gun owners to ensure that firearms are securely stored and out of reach at all times.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed Friday afternoon in a parking lot outside a Little Caesars restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
The victim has been named as Stevens Jeffrey, 29, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of West Cermak Road near Rockwell Street at approximately 1:10 p.m., according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Preliminary reports indicate that Jeffrey was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by an unknown vehicle.
An armed individual exited that vehicle and opened fire, striking Jeffrey multiple times in the face and body.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene, where Jeffrey was pronounced dead. He was discovered inside his vehicle with his two young children, ages 4 and 6, who were unharmed.
Both children were transported to Stroger Hospital for precautionary evaluation.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a Little Caesars restaurant, where investigators recovered multiple shell casings and placed numerous evidence markers on the ground.
As of Friday evening, no suspects are in custody, and detectives from the CPD Area Four Homicide Unit are leading the investigation. Police have not released information on a possible motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this homicide to contact Chicago Police or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTip.com.