5-year-old US child shoots dead 2-year-old sister while playing with gift gun

5-year-old US child shoots dead 2-year-old sister while playing with gift gun

A 5-year-old child in the US state of Kentucky has shot and killed his 2-year-old sister with a .22-caliber rifle he had received as a gift.

The “accidental” shooting took place Tuesday afternoon in the state’s Cumberland County while the male child was playing with the rifle, local news outlets reported.

The 2-year-old victim, identified by authorities as Caroline Starks, was reportedly transported to Cumberland Country Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

The children’s mother was at home at the time of the shooting, according to Cumberland County Coroner Gary White, who added that the child shooter got the gun as a gift last year.

“It’s a Crickett,” White said. “It’s a little rifle for a kid. …The little boy’s used to shooting the little gun.”

White further added that the gun was kept in a corner, and the family did not realize a shell had been left in it.

He underlined that the shooting will be ruled accidental. “Just one of those crazy accidents,” White simply added.

The development came as daily shootings across the United States continues unabated as the nation’s federal lawmakers recently refused to consider legislation for enforcement of more effective background checks on gun buyers and other gun-control measures.

The refusal of American lawmakers to enact better gun-control laws came despite a national outrage following the elementary school massacre of 20 children and 7 adults in the state of Connecticut in December 2012.