Tennessee woman, Breanna Runions, 25, charged with murder after fatally shooting Evangaline Gunter, 4, in the chest ‘in a firearm safety lesson’
Tennessee woman Breanna Runions, 25, charged with murder after fatally shooting Evangeline Gunter, 4, in the chest ‘during a gun safety lesson’
- Breanna Runions, 25, was charged with murder and aggravated child abuse after she shot and killed four-year-old Evangaline Gunter on Sunday
- Local media reported that Runions initially told police she had made sure the 9mm pistol was not loaded when she aimed and fired at the child’s chest.
- Runions said the gun was brought out for “a gun safety lesson,” but another woman in the house said the child was being punished for waking up Runions
A Tennessee woman has been charged with murder after she fatally shot a four-year-old girl, put a gun to her chest and pulled the trigger during what she initially claimed was “gun safety training.”
Breanna Runions, 25, was arrested Sunday after four-year-old Evangaline Gunter was shot dead.
After the shooting in Rockwood, Tennessee, Runions and her friend put the child in a car and drove off to seek medical attention. As they drove, they called 911.
They met EMTs in a Walmart parking lot, WBIR reported, and the child was taken to hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.
Runions told police she made sure the gun was unloaded and aimed it at her chest as a firearms lesson. But her friend contradicted her, WBIR said.
Breanna Runions, 25, is pictured in a Roane County police photo. She is charged with murder
Four-year-old Evangaline Gunter was shot to death in Rockwood, Tennessee, on Sunday
The girlfriend said that Evangaline and a second seven-year-old were punished by Runions after failing to wake the two adults.
The kids also got into trouble for eating food that belonged to Runions girlfriend.
Runions are believed to have been placed in charge of Evangaline by the court: her relationship to the child and the seven-year-old is unknown.
Runions’ girlfriend said Runions hit both children with a sandal and ordered the pair to stand in separate corners of the adults’ bedroom.
The girlfriend said Runions then grabbed a gun and removed the magazine, then called out Evangeline and shot her in the chest.
Officials said the girlfriend and seven-year-old were in the room during the shooting, but stood with their backs to the scene and did not witness the trigger being pulled: The bullet hit a glass bottle and shrapnel struck the other child.
Runions is pictured with the little girl she shot and killed during what she initially claimed to be “firearms safety training”
Runions is still in jail on $1.5 million bail. A grand jury hearing is likely to take place in February, said Russell Johnson, the district attorney.
Johnson said the children’s services department is investigating and there have been previous reports to the DCS about the children living at the home.
Evangeline’s parents Josie and Adam Gunter told WBIR that their daughter had been sent there by the court, but would only stay there for another two months.
“I feel like it’s my fault I let her be there. I should have paid more attention,” said Josie Gunter.
“I wish I could have been a better mother to her, to look out for.
“But it was a court decision in everything 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 going to miss the most: her hugs and her smile.”
Adam Gunter said kids should be kept away from guns.
“Don’t keep your guns out,” he said.
“You’re supposed to be smart with guns. Don’t keep the gun out.”