Prosecutors said a loaded handgun was left unsecured inside the family home.
BATON ROUGE, La. — A Louisiana father pleaded guilty after prosecutors said his 3-year-old daughter found a loaded gun and accidentally shot and killed her 1-year-old sister inside the family’s home.
The plea closed a criminal case tied to the 2023 shooting death of the toddler, a tragedy that drew attention to gun storage practices involving children. Court records showed the father admitted he left the firearm on a fireplace where it was accessible to young children in the house.
During court proceedings, the father acknowledged responsibility for leaving the weapon unsecured. “I knew better,” he said in court, according to local reporting. Investigators said the older child gained access to the handgun before firing a shot that struck her younger sister. Emergency crews responded to the home, but the child later died from her injuries.
Authorities said the shooting happened inside the family residence while adults were present in the home. Detectives determined the handgun had been left loaded and unattended. Police and prosecutors described the shooting as accidental but said the circumstances supported criminal charges tied to negligent firearm storage and child endangerment.
The case renewed discussion in Louisiana about accidental shootings involving children. Gun safety advocates and law enforcement officials have repeatedly warned about the risks of leaving loaded firearms unsecured in homes with minors. National data compiled by child safety organizations has shown that toddlers and young children are involved in dozens of unintentional shootings each year across the United States.
Prosecutors said the plea agreement avoided a trial while still holding the father legally accountable for the child’s death. Court officials did not immediately announce a final sentencing date, though records indicated sentencing proceedings are expected later this year. The father could face prison time, probation or other court-ordered conditions under the plea arrangement.
Family members did not speak publicly after the hearing. The case continued to draw emotional reactions because it involved two very young siblings and a shooting inside their own home. Community members attending the hearing quietly left the courtroom after the plea was entered.
The investigation is considered closed following the guilty plea, though sentencing proceedings remain pending in state court.
Author note: Last updated May 27, 2026.