Arizona Family Mourns 5-Year-Old Girl Who Was Accidentally Shot By Her Brother

An Arizona father has been arrested after his 5-year-old daughter was accidentally shot and killed by her older brother who found his father’s rifle in the family home. 

33-year-old Irvin Ramos-Jimenez said he was outside his home when he heard a loud bang, according to the Arizona Republic, citing court records. He said he went into his son’s room, where he kept his rifle on the top shelf, and found his daughter, Layla Ramos, shot. 

Ramos-Jimenez allegedly told police that his 9-year-old son “must have grabbed the gun” according to the court filing, the outlet reported — adding that there were two other 14-year-olds also in the room with him. 

Around 9 p.m. on June 3, Phoenix police officers received the call that Layla had been shot in her home and was taken to the hospital by family members, the Arizona Republic reported, citing police.

Layla was treated for her injuries but was soon pronounced dead from her gunshot wounds, the outlet reported. 

Ramos-Jimenez was then arrested and taken to a local jail for possessing a weapon as a felon, Fox 10 Phoenix reported. 

Prosecutors said during a court hearing that this wasn’t a simple case of a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, per the local outlet.

“He brought a gun into a home with kids,” prosecutors said. “Not just any gun, it was an assault rifle. He stored it in his 9-year-old’s bedroom. If the gun had not been in the house, we wouldn’t have had the outcome that we did.” 

Layla’s uncle, Jose Ramos, set up a GoFundMe for her funeral expenses. He wrote in the fundraiser post that her family plans to lay her to rest in a burial site that’s meant for babies and children who have died. 

“It pains our hearts to announce the passing of my beloved niece, Layla. She was our little princess, who received her wings far too soon. She was so loving, intelligent, and a truly beautiful soul,” Ramos wrote. 

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Layla’s mother, Dolores Ramirez, told ABC15 that although her daughter was just five years old, she filled their world with love. “She had the gentlest soul — kind, soft-hearted, and always so loving. Layla was the kind of child who made everyone feel special with just a smile or a quiet hug.”

Ramirez added that her daughter was excited to start going to school for the first time and that she was filled with a lot of joy. “She loved deeply and purely, and that love will stay with us forever. Though her time with us was far too short, Layla’s beautiful spirit will always live on in our hearts,” she said. 

For more information on safe firearm storage and the most effective ways to protect children from unsecured firearms, visit BeSMARTforkids.org.