SAMARRI TYANA BEAUFORD - 2 yo - / Charged: Father, Melvin Andre Clark Jr - Fayetteville, NC

Two year-old Fayetteville girl accidentally shoots herself


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by WNCN Staff

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -

The Fayetteville Police Department said a 2-year-old girl died after accidentally shooting herself Saturday afternoon.

Police said officers responded to the 2600 block of Graham Road around 12:40 p.m. Responding officers found a 2-year-old girl suffering from a gunshot wound.

Investigators said the girl was not breathing when they first responded. She was transported immediately to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and police believe EMS performed CPR on the way in attempts to save her.

"The child sustained the injuries due to an unsecured handgun in the residence. We have obtained that handgun," said Cpt. Charles Hunter with the Fayetteville Police Department.

The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital, authorities said.

Police said the girl found the loaded weapon and it discharged, killing her.

Neighbors nicknamed the two year old girl, "Coco" and said she was full of happiness and life. But after what police are calling a tragic accident, they plan on moving soon. "She was just in my yard playing with my dog and for something like this to happen you know it's devastating" said duplex neighbor Byron Brown.

Brown's family lives right next door and he said "The gun shouldn't have been in her presence. She shouldn't have been able to look at it let alone touch it."

Captain Charles Hunter said, "The weapons were unsecured in a location where the child could have found it."

Dave Smith lives just a few blocks away and said his daughter was planning on visiting soon, but now he won't let her come.

Felicia Brown said there's been one too many shootings in the neighborhood and that the latest shooting, albeit accidental, was the last straw. She's moving as soon as possible.

Currently no charges have been filed yet, but the police say as the investigation continues, that will most likely change. 

http://www.wncn.com/story/23734174/child-2-dies-in-fayetteville-shooting

Father faces charges in Fayetteville toddler's death

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Detectives with the Fayetteville Police Department have charged and arrested Melvin Andre Clark Jr. with Involuntary Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, in connection with the shooting death of two year old daughter Samarri Tyana Beauford.

A 2-year-old girl died Saturday afternoon after she found a loaded handgun and accidentally shot herself inside her Fayetteville home.

A 2-year-old girl died Saturday afternoon after suffering a gunshot wound inside a home in the 2600 block of Graham Road, Fayetteville police said.
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Fayetteville, N.C. — Fayetteville police arrested a man Sunday in the death of his 2-year-old daughter, who accidentally shot herself.

Melvin Andre Clark Jr., 19, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 


Police said Clark left a loaded .22 semi-automatic pistol under the couch in his living room, where his daughter, Samarri Tyana Beauford, was playing Saturday.

The toddler found the gun and accidentally shot herself, police said. She was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center about 12:30 p.m., where she later died.

No one else in the home was injured.

Clark was being held in the Cumberland County Detention Center on Sunday evening under a $50,000 secured bond. He was scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon.

www.kesq.com/news/Dad...after-2-year-old-shoots-herself/-/.../-/index.html

Not an accident when the gun is in plain sight and not locked in a gun safe. Glad charges are coming. So sorry baby girl. RIP.

At 16 he knocked up some girl.   At 19 he's a convicted criminal with more than one gun.  Now he's the father of a dead baby girl.  What a prize.