A THREE-YEAR-OLD toddler has been shot dead by her sister after she found their father’s 9mm loaded pistol on the kitchen counter.
Olivia Melo Moreira was found by her parents on the floor of her family home in , on Sunday, November 8.
According to the father’s statement, his five-year-old daughter ran towards their father and repeatedly said: “Sorry, Daddy, sorry, Daddy.”
The family went to bed late after a street party outside their home continued until 6am, according to investigators.
Following the party, Olivia’s mother had noticed the garage gate was wide open and alerted her partner.
The father then took the pistol downstairs to check whether anyone had broken into the property.
Having confirmed there were no trespassers, he returned to bed, leaving the loaded pistol, still in its holster, on the kitchen counter.
He and his partner said they later woke up to a loud noise and discovered Olivia lying on the floor next to her two sisters.
Olivia was rushed to hospital, where doctors attempted to resuscitate her, but sadly, she did not survive.
The father went to the police station voluntarily to give a statement as a suspect, but was not arrested at the time due to his cooperative behaviour.
have said he will face proceedings for involuntary manslaughter.
He will also face proceedings of failure to exercise proper caution with a firearm in regards to his failure in preventing his older daughter from accessing the pistol.
Proceedings for an intentional homicide charge have not yet been ruled out by investigators.
The pistol was seized, and forensic examinations were carried out in the Moreira family home by the Capital Homicide Division.
Further steps are now underway to establish the circumstances surrounding Olivia’s death, according to police.
The father had registered the weapon as a licensed collector, sport shooter and hunter.
His legal team declined to comment, saying: “At this very delicate and tragic moment, the family has no interest whatsoever in making a statement.”
