5-Year-Old D.C. Girl in Critical Condition After Being Shot by 3-Year-Old Brother

A tragic incident unfolded in Washington, D.C., as a five-year-old girl remains in critical condition after being accidentally shot by her three-year-old brother with an unsecured firearm.

Stock image of a child in critical care. Credit: Marco_Piunti / Getty.

Details of the Incident

Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a call about a shooting on December 16 at an apartment in the Unit block of Galveston Street SW. Upon arrival, they discovered a young girl with a gunshot wound to the upper body.

The girl was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she remains in critical condition.

Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith expressed the need for increased firearm safety during a press conference:

“When we have firearms in our homes, there’s an expectation that we are to keep our firearms locked up, especially away from our children.”

Arrests Made

The investigation revealed that the children’s mother had left them in the care of a family friend, 59-year-old Darrell Graham, who was present during the shooting. Graham was arrested at the scene and charged with First Degree Cruelty to Children.

Additionally, D’Jaunae McCrory Jackson, 21, identified as the five-year-old’s sibling, faces multiple charges, including:

• Negligent storage of a firearm
• Prohibited possession of certain dangerous weapons
• First-degree cruelty to children
• Other gun-related charges

Police also reported that another individual, also named McCrory Jackson, was charged after allegedly assaulting a special police officer responding to the incident.

Weapon Recovered

During a search of the apartment, law enforcement recovered the firearm, identified as a ghost gun — a weapon assembled from untraceable parts without serial numbers.

United Against Gun Violence describes ghost guns as “unserialized and untraceable firearms” that are often sold in kits or as separate components but function like any other firearm.

Ongoing Investigation

The Metropolitan Police have stated that the investigation is ongoing, with details provided during the press conference described as preliminary and subject to change.

Chief Pamela Smith reiterated the importance of safe firearm storage to prevent such tragedies:

“We cannot talk about gun safety enough. It’s such an unfortunate incident.”

Resources on Gun Safety

• For tips on keeping firearms secure, visit Project ChildSafe.
• Learn about ghost guns and their risks at United Against Gun Violence.

Featured image credit: Marco_Piunti / Getty.