2-year-old son fatally shoots his mom with her boyfriend’s gun while she sleeps

December 11, 2024 Sharon Banks

A 22-year-old California mother, Jessinya Mina, was tragically killed when her 2-year-old son accidentally shot her with a 9 mm pistol that had been left unsecured by her boyfriend, according to police.

Authorities described the weapon as being “negligently” stored in the bedroom, leading to the fatal incident. The boyfriend, 18-year-old Andrew Sanchez, is now facing charges for his actions.

Mina’s sister, Jessica Rodriguez, condemned Sanchez for his disregard of her sister’s wishes to keep their home gun-free. “Because of his carelessness, arrogance, and irresponsibility, my sister is gone forever,” she said.

“Now, my niece and nephew will grow up knowing her only through memories and stories, not her presence.”

The incident occurred Friday at the Butterfly Grove Apartments in Fresno, where Mina lived with her two children.

According to the Fresno Police Department, Sanchez left his loaded 9 mm handgun in a place where it was accessible to the children. The toddler managed to get hold of the weapon and fired it while Mina was asleep. Police responded to the shooting shortly after 5:30 p.m.

“While handling the firearm, the toddler was able to pull the trigger, striking Mina,” officials stated.

Sanchez was detained at the scene and later charged with felony child endangerment and felony criminal storage of a firearm. Although he has since been released on bail, the investigation remains ongoing.

Lt. Paul Cervantes of the Fresno Police highlighted the tragedy as a sobering reminder of the importance of safe firearm storage.

The gun in question, a KelTec 9 mm, has no external safety mechanism and only requires about five to six pounds of pressure to fire, making it feasible for a child to operate.

“Unfortunately, this kind of incident has happened before, where children access firearms and unintentionally fire them,” Cervantes noted during a press briefing.

Mina’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses, remembering her as a devoted mother to her 2-year-old son and 7-month-old daughter.

“She was full of love and life,” the family wrote on the fundraiser page. “She deserved the chance to see her children grow up.”

Rodriguez expressed her devastation over the loss, saying, “We’ll never see my sister fulfill her dreams because of Sanchez’s negligence. She didn’t deserve this.”

TOP STORIES

Police are continuing to investigate the shooting and are working with prosecutors to determine whether additional charges should be filed. They have urged anyone with information about the case to contact the Fresno Police Department.