MIAMI (AP) — Police in Florida are investigating after two young children died in separate gun-related incidents on both sides of the state on Sunday.
Investigators on Monday morning announced the arrest of a 16-year-old boy and the uncle of a 4-year-old girl who apparently found a gun under a bed in a Riviera Beach home on Sunday night. Police told local news outlets that the gun discharged while Amirra Jacques was playing with it. She was taken to a hospital but died a short time later.
The girl's uncle was in the home when the shooting occurred. Police arrested Nathaniel Lowe and the teenager. They didn't explain the teen's relationship to the child.
Lowe is charged with culpable negligence, tampering with evidence, grand theft of a firearm and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. The teen is charged with culpable negligence, tampering with evidence, perjury and grand theft of a firearm.
It wasn't clear whether the teen is going to be charged as an adult. And records didn't say whether Lowe has a lawyer.
No further details were immediately available.
Across the state in Tampa, investigators are trying to determine how a 17-month-old child was killed.
Tampa police said in a news release that the child was shot at the Clipper Bay Apartments about 4:12 p.m. Sunday and later died. They didn't say whether the child is a boy or a girl.
Investigators were interviewing family members late Sunday and said additional details wouldn't be available until Monday.
