Girl, 4, shoots herself dead after reaching into her grandmother's purse for some candy and instead triggering gun inside
By Snejana Farberov
Daily Mail
September 21, 2017
A week ago, four-year-old Yanelly Zoller was staying at her grandparents' home in Florida when she reached into her grandmother's purse looking for a sweet treat, but instead found a gun.
Yanelly, known to her family as 'Nelly,' accidentally pulled the trigger, shooting herself to death.
The toddler was pronounced dead from a single gunshot wound to the chest on September 14 at the Tampa residence of her paternal grandparents, Michael and Christie Zoller.
Her 22-year-old father Shane Zoller told the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday that he was on his way to pick up Nelly to take her to the local splash pads when he saw police vehicles with their lights flashing outside his parents' home.
'She just wanted some damn candy,' Zoller said of his late daughter's motivation to reach into her grandmother's bag.
Tampa police told the newspaper they are investigating the case, but have no reason to doubt Zoller's version of events.
Speaking to DailyMail.com on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Tampa Police Department would not confirm that the firearm found inside Christie Zoller's purse belonged to her and would not comment on whether the woman had a gun permit.
He added that the shooting appears to be a 'tragic accident' and that he does not think any charges will be filed, although police are still investigating the incident.
Shane Zoller was still in high school when he became a father, and if his parents had not helped with Nelly, he would have had to drop out of school.
He says Nelly was 'attached to her nana's hip" and loved staying at her grandparents' house.
Zoller shared custody with the girl's mother. He now has one surviving child, a son, and another on the way.
According to her obituary, Nelly Zoller loved playing with her puppy, watching the animated series Shimmer and Shine, jumping on the couch and doing her makeup.
Family members have launched fundraisers on the sites GoFundMe.com and YouCaring.com to help Nelly's parents with her funeral expenses.
As of Thursday morning, just under $1,700 has been raised from both campaigns.
'Our little angel's life was short-lived, however her beauty and magic will linger forever,' the description of the YouCaring campaign read. 'In her 4 years of life, she touched so many lives as an Angel from God would, a little Angel sent to us from Heaven. Now she is back in God's arms'
1 comment:
One of the many reasons I hate purse carry. If you are going to carry a gun you should CARRY the gun.
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