Toddler accidentally shoots mother, victim's family reacts

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Fresno constabulary accidental a toddler shot and killed their mother in northeast Fresno Friday. 

They telephone it an avoidable tragedy. 

22-year-old Jessinya Mena was changeable successful her furniture conscionable before 5:30 p.m. Friday astatine the Butterfly Grove flat complex. 

Jessinya Mena. Courtesy: Jessica Rodriguez

Jessinya Mena. Courtesy: Jessica Rodriguez

Police accidental her two-year-old kid pulled the trigger. 

“It's hard due to the fact that we are having to wrestle with the thought that it's adjacent conceivable that a two-and-a-half-year-old kid would person capable spot to manipulate a firearm,” Lt. Paul Cervantes said. 

Cervantes says Mena’s 18-year-old fellow Andrew Sanchez kept a loaded weapon successful their apartment.

The weapon was not locked up, nor did it person an outer information feature. 

“Tragedies specified arsenic this, arsenic I mentioned, they origin a ripple effect for the loved ones and they permission an indelible people connected our community,” Cervantes said. 

Police accidental Sanchez and their different roommates began to thrust Mena to the hospital, but 911 dispatch told them to hold for officers to get astatine the scene. 

When constabulary showed up, they arrested Sanchez and took Mena to CRMC. She died soon aft getting to the hospital. 

“Mr. Sanchez was booked that evening for negligent retention of a firearm, including felony kid endangerment,” Cervantes said. 

Mena had 2 children: the toddler and an eight-month-old. They are present staying with her family. 

Mena’s older sister Jessica Rodriguez sent YourCentralValley.com a connection saying Mena had a beauteous psyche and was going to cosmetology schoolhouse to commencement her career. 

The connection went connected to say, "My niece and nephew volition person to unrecorded disconnected of memories and stories of my sister alternatively than her presence. We volition ne'er beryllium capable to witnesser my sister transportation retired her lifelong goals and accomplishments owed to his negligence."

“The Fresno Police Department is profoundly saddened by this benignant of tragedy, that’s devastating and decidedly serves arsenic a stark reminder of the value and value of being capable to decently store your limb and bash truthful successful a mode that children bash not entree it,” Cervantes said.

The Fresno Police Department volition supply escaped weapon locks to those who request them.

His connection to children is, “If you spot a firearm, permission it alone. Don't interaction it. Tell an adult.”