A man has been arrested following the tragic accidental shooting death of seven-year-old Willow Rose, caused by an unsecured firearm.
According to a press release from the City of Kannapolis, officers responded to a residence on the 400 block of Cabarrus Arms Drive around 7:30 a.m.
Upon arrival, they found that the young girl had been fatally shot by her sibling. Despite emergency response efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation revealed that 33-year-old Timothy Wayne Burris, the boyfriend of the child’s mother, had left a firearm unsecured in the home.
After consulting with the Cabarrus County District Attorney’s Office, Burris was arrested and charged with:
- Felony child abuse inflicting serious injury
- Storing a firearm in a manner accessible to a minor
- Contributing to the delinquency of a minor
Burris was taken to the Cabarrus County Magistrate’s Office, where he received a $25,000 bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for January 24.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to uncover more details. Police are reminding all firearm owners to store their weapons responsibly to prevent similar tragedies.