A tragic incident in Henderson, North Carolina, has left a community in mourning after a 5-year-old girl, Avah Gracelynn Bullock, was fatally shot by a 3-year-old boy who found an unsecured firearm in her home. The child’s mother, Morgan Nicole Deans, 24, has been charged with selling/giving a weapon to a minor, according to Vance District Court documents.
The incident occurred on Friday, February 28, when first responders were called to a residence on Gary Street around 9:30 a.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, Henderson Police Department officers found Avah with a single gunshot wound.
Despite immediate medical assistance, she succumbed to her injuries. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 3-year-old boy had accessed an unsecured firearm inside the home and accidentally discharged it.
Avah, described as a “girlie girl” who “loved makeup and playing with her siblings,” was a student at Aycock Elementary School. Her obituary highlighted her love for “all things sassy and sparkly, especially high heels and makeup.” Her grandmother, speaking to WRAL, remembered her as a “little troublemaker” but emphasized that “she loved being with her siblings and her mama.”
The grieving grandmother expressed anger toward Deans, telling CBS17, “I just wish she would’ve had that gun put up.” Neighbors also expressed shock and sadness over the incident. One neighbor told CBS17, “It’s unbelievable.
But it’s sad. Sometimes as parents, we have to be cautious with firearms and everything when it comes to our kids.” Deans was arrested and charged but was later released on a $5,000 bond. The case has sparked conversations about gun safety and the responsibilities of firearm owners, particularly in households with young children. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy as the community mourns the loss of a vibrant young life.
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