A four-year-old girl lost her life in Rockwood, Tennessee, when a woman allegedly attempted to give her a “gun safety lesson” on Sunday, August 27. Breanna Runions, 25, is now facing murder and aggravated child abuse charges.
Sources indicate that Runions had already reprimanded the young girl, Evangaline Gunter, by striking her with a sandal and making her stand in the corner. Afterwards, Runions allegedly called Evangaline over to demonstrate gun safety. She claimed she had removed the magazine from her 9mm handgun, but a round remained in the chamber. Runions is accused of pressing the gun’s barrel against the child’s torso and firing.
The arrest affidavit detailed that the suspect initially told authorities she was demonstrating “firearms safety” to the child. However, her account became suspect when another woman in the home, who wasn’t related to the child, reported that Runions had disciplined Evangaline and another 7-year-old child earlier that day.
The children had been disciplined for not waking Runions and the other woman and for eating without permission. Currently, the relationship between Runions, the other woman, and the children is unknown. The reason the children were at the residence and not with their parents is still unconfirmed.
The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, which had previous interactions with the household, is investigating the living situation following the incident.
Evangaline’s biological mother expressed her grief, stating the child was residing at the home due to a court order and was meant to remain there for two more months. She lamented, “I wish I could have been a better mother for her… But it was a court decision, and this is what happens.”
