Frederick County mom arrested after 2-year-old shoots 4-year-old, Fauquier County police say
OPAL, Va. - A mother from Frederick County has been arrested after her 4-year-old daughter was accidentally shot by a 2-year-old boy in a car in Fauquier County, according to authorities.
The Fauquier County Sheriff's Office said 21-year-old Destinie Rochelle Beach of Stephens City, Virginia was arrested and charged on Thursday after she turned herself in without incident.
Detectives said Beach and 26-year-old Isaiah Marshall Davis of Winchester, Virginia were traveling from Winchester to Colonial Beach with three children in a car when they made a stop at Quarles Truck Stop in the 9700 block of James Madison Highway in the Opal area of Fauquier County on Friday.
Beach and Davis left the three children in the car unsupervised while they went inside, according to officials. The sheriff's office said while Beach and Davis were inside, a 2-year-old boy got a hold of a loaded gun and accidentally shot a 4-year-old girl in the upper body.
Authorities said Beach and Davis returned to the car and left the area without seeking medical help for the 4-year-old girl's serious injury.
Beach, Davis and the children were found in Westmoreland County later that evening and the injured child was rushed to the hospital for treatment. The child was later released from the hospital. There were no other injuries reported.
Davis was arrested and charged earlier in the week with abuse and neglect of children, a Class 4 felony; two counts of abuse and neglect of children, a Class 6 felony; reckless handling of a firearm, and allowing access to a firearm by children.
Beach was arrested and charged with abuse and neglect of children, and possession/transport of a firearm by a non-violent felon. She was held on $5,000 bail.
The sheriff's office strongly encourages the safe storage of firearms and said it could provide cable locks and information regarding the safe storage and transport of guns.
For information on how to obtain a gun lock or the safe storage of firearms, you can call the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office administrative line at (540) 422-8600.