5-year-old mistakes real gun for toy gun, accidentally shoots and kills 7-year-old

A 7-year-old girl was shot and killed at a birthday party in South Carolina after a 5-year-old boy fired a gun that he believed to be a toy. According to the Lexington County Sheriff James Metts, the 5-year-old was trying to retrieve a toy gun out of a trunk at a birthday party on Saturday night when he mistakenly picked up a real gun instead.

Gaston deputies stated that the fired bullet went flew through the inside of a car, causing pieces of it to hit 7-year-old Juliet Lynch in her chest. Lynch passed from her injuries shortly after.

The boy’s mother told Metts the real gun belonged to her boyfriend and that she was unaware of it having been in the trunk of the car.

Metts says charges are likely to be filed.

Authorities have not released the names of the 5-year-old boy, his mother or her boyfriend.

– Antionette Latrese (@_ALatrese)