A tragic incident unfolded in the United States as a 25-year-old woman, Breanna Runions, was arrested on charges of murder and aggravated child abuse following the fatal shooting of a 4-year-old girl named Evangeline Gunter. The heart-wrenching incident occurred on a Sunday while Runions was purportedly attempting to demonstrate gun safety.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) released a statement confirming Runions’ arrest and the charges against her. Their investigation led them to conclude that Runions was responsible for the injuries that ultimately led to the young girl’s death. According to the New York Post, Runions initially claimed that the shooting was an unfortunate accident that occurred during her gun safety demonstration.
However, this account was contradicted by both her girlfriend and a 7-year-old who were present during the tragic event. According to their testimonies, Runions had punished the two children for failing to wake up the adults and for eating without permission, presumably belonging to her girlfriend. Allegedly, she resorted to physically disciplining the children by hitting them with a sandal and ordering them to stand in different corners of the bedroom where the adults were sleeping.
Following this disturbing sequence of events, Runions reportedly summoned the 4-year-old, Evangeline, to demonstrate “firearm safety.” It was at this horrifying moment that she pressed the gun’s barrel against the child’s front torso and pulled the trigger, resulting in the fatal injury, as reported by the news outlet.
After the shooting, both Runions and her girlfriend rushed the gravely injured little girl to the hospital. Tragically, despite their efforts, Evangeline Gunter was pronounced dead at Roane Medical Center, according to officials.
Authorities revealed that Runions’ girlfriend was in the room at the time but did not witness the shooting, as she had looked away. Additionally, investigators noted that Runions may have initially misled them into believing that the shooting was part of a firearms safety demonstration aimed at the frightened 4-year-old.
Amidst this heartbreaking incident, the girl’s mother, Josie Gunter, expressed profound regret, mentioning that her daughter was living in the house due to a court order and was supposed to stay for just two more months. She shared her anguish, saying, “I feel like it’s my fault that I let her be there. I should have been more attentive. I wish I could have been a better mother for her, to pay attention.”