Ukraine: 7-Year-Old Boy Shoots and Kills 6-Year-Old Girl with Father’s Rifle

Kyiv Region, Ukraine – A shocking tragedy struck the Kyiv region when a 7-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his 6-year-old neighbor with his father’s hunting rifle. Authorities say the boy was playing with the firearm in the yard when the incident occurred.

Police reported that the girl, who lived next door, suffered a severe gunshot wound to her arm and succumbed to her injuries despite emergency efforts.

According to officials, the incident occurred in the Borispil area on August 23 at around 4:00 p.m. The boy allegedly retrieved the shotgun belonging to his father and fired it while playing, fatally striking the young girl.

“The child took his father’s hunting rifle and fired at the girl. She died as a result of her injuries,” the Kyiv Regional Police Department said in a statement.

Father Arrested

The boy’s father was arrested and brought in for questioning on charges of gross negligence and improper storage of firearms. Authorities launched a criminal investigation under Part 1 of Article 115 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which covers intentional homicide and carries a potential sentence of seven to fifteen years in prison.

However, due to the boy’s young age, he will not face prosecution. Instead, his father faces additional charges for severe parental negligence and careless storage of weapons, an offense punishable by two to five years in prison.

Community in Shock

The local community has been left reeling from the tragedy. Residents expressed their grief and anger, stressing the need for stricter enforcement of firearm safety regulations.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy. No child should have access to weapons, ever,” one neighbor told Ukrainian media.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities say they are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the shooting and reviewing whether other family members were aware of the firearm’s storage conditions.

The police urged citizens to store weapons responsibly and ensure they are inaccessible to minors, to prevent future tragedies of this nature.