Marshfield police said the child gained access to her father’s firearm, and investigators are considering possible criminal charges.
MARSHFIELD, Mo. — A 5-year-old girl died Saturday after gaining access to her father’s improperly secured gun and accidentally shooting herself inside a Marshfield home, according to police, who said they are investigating whether criminal charges should be pursued.
Marshfield Police Chief Doug Fannen said officers were called to a home on East Washington Street at about 10 a.m. Oct. 3. Police said the child had been able to reach her father’s gun because it was not properly secured. She suffered a gunshot wound and died at the scene. Authorities had not publicly identified the girl as of Sunday.
Police described the shooting as accidental based on their preliminary investigation. Fannen told local news outlet KY3 that investigators were looking into possible criminal charges. Authorities had not announced any arrest or specified what charge could potentially be sought.
Police have released few additional details about the circumstances inside the home. Authorities have not publicly said where the firearm had been stored, how the child gained access to it or whether anyone else was in the immediate area when the shooting occurred. No additional injuries were reported in the initial accounts.
The firearm was described by police as belonging to the girl’s father. Authorities have not publicly identified him, and police have not accused him of a crime. The department also has not said whether the gun was seized as evidence or whether investigators were conducting additional testing as part of the case.
The investigation remained active after the shooting. Officials had not released information about how long the firearm may have been accessible to the child or whether investigators had interviewed other people who were at the residence. Police also had not announced whether the case had been referred to prosecutors for a charging decision.
Initial reporting from KY3 was later carried by Gray Media stations, including Arizona’s Family. Those reports consistently cited Fannen as saying the gun had not been properly secured and that investigators were considering possible criminal charges. No later report reviewed Sunday announced that charges had been filed.
Authorities had not released the child’s name or additional information about her family. Police also had not provided a more detailed timeline of the moments before the shooting, leaving several circumstances surrounding the child’s access to the firearm unresolved.
The Marshfield Police Department continued to investigate the death as of Oct. 4. Any decision on criminal charges had not been announced, and officials had not released further findings about responsibility for the firearm’s storage.
Author note: Last updated October 4, 2026.