On April 5, 2022, 4-year-old Nevaeh Mallory Collins was sitting inside a vehicle parked at a gas pump outside the Eagle Save Mart on Kerlin Street in Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. While her father had stepped away into the store, her 2-year-old brother handled an unsecured firearm in the vehicle, which discharged and struck Nevaeh in the abdomen. She was rushed to Crozer-Chester Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. The Pennsylvania fatality report classified the death as serious physical neglect, citing that the child was not properly secured in her car seat and had access to the unsecured gun; it named the father and a family friend as perpetrators and noted the family was previously known to child welfare. The death was ruled accidental.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
All sources describe a firearm incident. The fatality report states the child "suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen" and had "accessibility to the unsecured gun in the vehicle." The NBC article states "The boy was handling a gun which went off, shooting the 4-year-old girl."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report states that while in the care of the father and family friend, "the child was not properly secured in the car seat which left the child accessibility to the unsecured gun in the vehicle." News articles note the father "went in the store" leaving the children, including a 2-year-old, in the vehicle with a gun.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The fatality report names "the victim child's father" as a perpetrator and states the child was in "the care of the father" at the time. News articles note the father was outside the car at the gas station/store when the gun discharged.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
The fatality report names "a family friend as the perpetrators" and states the child was in the care of "the father and the family friend." The NBC article references a friend of the father who usually watched the children.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
The Gun Violence Archive lists the subject-suspect as a 2-year-old male, relationship "Family," with the note "Brother shot sister." The NBC article states "A 2-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed a 4-year-old girl."
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The fatality report states "The family was previously known to child welfare."
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The fatality report highlights a systemic/policy concern: an unsecured firearm left accessible to young children in a vehicle, and that despite the death, "the three other children in the home at the time of the incident remained in the home and no services were provided." There is also a notable discrepancy between sources on who was shooting — the fatality report frames the death as "serious physical neglect" naming the father and a family friend as perpetrators, while news sources and the Gun Violence Archive specify the shot was fired by a 2-year-old sibling handling the unsecured gun.
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