The father of a three-year-old girl who was fatally shot in western Sydney has been charged over the possession of an illegal sawn-off shotgun.
The 43-year-old has not however been charged with causing the “beautiful little” girl’s death.
A neighbour told The Daily Telegraph said they had heard a woman – thought to be the toddler’s mother – shouting “I hate you, I hate you, he killed my baby girl… rot in hell.”
“She was screaming it was his fault because he had a gun in the house.”
A family friend of the girl’s grandparents said the whole family was distraught.
“The people inside have also lost a son because he’s now in jail … what happened was a tragedy,” he said.
Neighbours recounted the horrific moment they heard a “loud” bang then hysterical screening. Witnesses say they heard a man shout “she’s dead… she’s shot herself”.
Police and paramedics rushed to the scene but the little girl was found dead with a gunshot wound to the neck.
The father was denied bail for three firearm charges and contravening two Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders – one at the home where his daughter died and one at the family home in Arncliffe, Sydney.
Mark Tapua, another neighbour, told Seven News about the aftermath of the attack.
“The father just came out screaming and crying. He couldn’t really talk and he just said if I could call the ambulance for him,” he said.
“I seen another guy leave the house with blood all over his hands and that.”
Riverstone Police Commander Acting Superintendent Paul Carrett spoke of the tragedy in the situation.
“When police arrived … they found the child had suffered a fatal wound to her neck.”
“The death of a three-year-old child under any circumstances is tragic. It is tragic for the family and it is tragic for the police and other emergency services who attend these scenes,” he added
Neighbours took the girl’s three brothers into their home after the devastating shooting and the three boys gave statements to police yesterday.
Investigations continue.
