Girl, four, 'fatally shot in chest by woman teaching her firearm safety'

30 August 2023 , 22:16

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Evangaline Gunter was tragically shot dead on Sunday (Image: Facebook)

A four-year-old was allegedly fatally shot in the chest by a woman who claimed she was teaching "firearm safety".

Breanna Runions, 25, from Tennessee, has been charged with murder and aggravated child abuse after Evangaline Gunter was shot dead on Sunday. The suspect, along with her girlfriend, quickly put the child into a car and rushed to hospital while on the phone to 911. However, on arrival at the emergency room, she was tragically pronounced dead.

According to police, Breanna told officers she had ensured the gun was unloaded, and pointed it at her chest during a firearm lesson. Her girlfriend disputes this and claims the young girl and a seven-year-old child were in trouble for eating food that belonged to Breanna's partner.

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Evangaline Gunter was shot dead on Sunday (Facebook)

Breanna is believed to have been put in charge of the toddler by the courts, but her relationship with the child and the seven-year-old is unclear. Her girlfriend claims Breanna hit both kids with a sandal and demanded the pair stand in separate corners of the adult's bedroom. She then took out a gun and removed the magazine, called Evangaline over, and allegedly shot her in the chest.

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Police believe the girlfriend and the seven-year-old were in the room during the shooting but had their backs to the scene and did not witness the trigger being pulled. “Runions related that she then called Gunter over to show her firearm safety, at which point she pressed the barrel of the gun into the front of Gunter’s torso and pulled the trigger, discharging a round into Gunter,” the affidavit said.

Breanna Runions is accused of firing the gun (Roane County jail)

Evangaline's parents Josie and Adam Gunter told WBIR that their daughter was sent there by the courts, but was only supposed to be there for two more months.

"I feel like it's my fault that I let her be there. I should have been more attentive,' said Josie Gunter. I wish I could have been a better mother for her, to pay attention. But it was a court decision in everything that we had done this for and this is what happens. Her hugs were so full of life and love. That's the one thing I'm gonna miss the most, is her hugs and her smile.'"

The suspect remains in jail, on a $1.5 million bond. A grand jury hearing will likely be held in February, according to Russell Johnson, the district attorney. In addition, the state Department of Children’s Services, which had responded to the home in the past, is also investigating the shooting, authorities said.

Liam Buckler