A Missouri community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of 7-month-old Kiyomi Parker after she was fatally sH๏τ inside a home in St. Louis, leading to criminal charges against her father.

According to authorities, officers responded to a home in the 8400 block of North Broadway in the Baden neighborhood on June 25 after receiving reports of a child who had been sH๏τ. When they arrived, they found Kiyomi suffering from a gunsH๏τ wound.

The infant was rushed to a hospital, where medical personnel attempted lifesaving treatment. Despite their efforts, she later died from her injuries.

Investigators allege that the sH๏τ was fired by a 10-year-old boy who gained access to a loaded handgun inside the home. Police said a 7-year-old child was also present during the incident.

According to investigators, the firearm had been stored under a mattress and was allegedly left unsecured, allowing the children to access it.

Police have charged 19-year-old Ca’Marion Pawnell, Kiyomi’s father, with second-degree murder, first-degree child endangerment resulting in death, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Authorities allege Pawnell left the loaded firearm accessible to children inside the residence. He is currently being held without bond while the case proceeds through the court system.

The charges are allegations, and Pawnell is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

As investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting, the case has renewed concerns about the importance of securely storing firearms in homes where children are present.

Authorities have not indicated that the 10-year-old understood the consequences of handling the weapon. Instead, investigators are focusing on whether the firearm was stored in a manner that created an unreasonable risk to the children inside the home.

The presence of multiple young children during the incident has added another layer of tragedy, as officials work to determine exactly how the gun was accessed and what occurred in the moments before the shooting.

For Kiyomi’s family, the legal proceedings come amid the unimaginable loss of a baby whose life had only just begun.

Police say the investigation remains ongoing, and additional details may be released as authorities continue gathering evidence and preparing the case for court.