Toddler accidentally shoots mom, 22, dead while playing with bf’s unsecured gun

A 22-year-old mother was shot to death when her 2-year-old found her boyfriend’s loaded gun inside their Northern California apartment and unknowingly pulled the trigger in what cops called a “preventable” tragedy.

Andrew Sanchez, 18, was arrested after the toddler managed to get hold of his unsecured handgun left in the couple’s bedroom and blasted one fatal round at Jessinya Mina’s upper body while the pair were relaxing in bed Friday evening, according to the Fresno Police Department.

Mina, also mother to an 8-month-old daughter, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, where she succumbed to her injuries.

“This is very tragic, and a very much preventable and avoidable incident. He left that firearm in an area that was accessible to a 2 ½-year-old toddler at that location,” Lt. Paul Cervantes said at a news conference Monday.

“The Fresno Police Department is deeply saddened by this type of tragedy that’s devastating and definitely serves as a stark reminder of the significance and importance of being able to properly store your weapon and do so in a manner that children don’t access it.”

Police responded to the Butterfly Grove Apartment complex around 5:40 p.m. and found Sanchez attempting to take the young mother to the hospital, police said. First responders began lifesaving measures before transporting her to the medical center, where she later died.

The 9mm gun was located at the scene and seized, Cervantes said, adding that the firearm had no external safety feature.

Sanchez, who has no criminal history, was immediately taken into custody and charged with criminal storage of a firearm and child endangerment, both felonies.

“As you can imagine, it’s difficult because we’re having to wrestle with the idea that it’s even conceivable that a 2 ½-year-old child would have sufficient strength to manipulate a firearm,” Cervantes said.

Jessica Rodriguez, the victim’s older sister, described Mina as a beautiful soul who was in the process of going back to cosmetology school. She added that her sister’s boyfriend neglected several pleas from the slain mother to remove the firearm from their home. 

“She was beautiful and funny and could put a smile on anyone’s face, anyone who knew her was truly blessed by her presence. Now because of her boyfriend’s carelessness, his arrogance, his responsibility, and neglecting my sister’s wishes of never having a gun in her house, she’s gone forever,” Rodriguez said in a statement to KFSN.

“My niece and nephew will have to live off of memories and stories of my sister rather than her presence. We will never be able to witness my sister carry out her lifelong goals and accomplishments due to his negligence. My sister didn’t deserve this.”

Rodriguez also launched a GoFundMe to raise money to support her family. 

Sanchez was booked at the Fresno County Jail and had since posted bail, police said.  

The investigation remains ongoing.