A 4-year-old girl, Jurnee Scales Walker, was fatally shot inside a Milwaukee home Saturday morning after her 6-year-old brother reportedly gained access to a firearm, according to local reports. The incident has prompted renewed calls for gun owners to ensure firearms are securely stored and kept out of children’s reach.
Milwaukee police responded to a home in the 2700 block of North 53rd Street at around 9 a.m. after the shooting was reported. Emergency responders pronounced Jurnee dead at the scene, authorities said.
The circumstances surrounding how the young boy accessed the firearm remain under investigation.
Neighbor Describes Emotional Scene After Shooting
Rodney McKinney, a neighbor who witnessed the aftermath, described the scene as heartbreaking. He told WTMJ that he noticed one responding officer crying as the situation unfolded.
“The one officer came out, and he was crying, and that’s when I knew something was sad,” McKinney told the local television station.
The shooting has left family members and neighbors mourning the death of the young girl.
16-Year-Old Sibling Taken Into Custody
A 16-year-old sibling of Jurnee was taken into custody following the incident and charged with firearm possession, according to local media reports.
The teenager appeared in Milwaukee’s juvenile court system on Monday. Authorities are investigating how the firearm was obtained and how it became accessible to children in the home.
Officials have not publicly established all the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The investigation is ongoing.
Family Remembers Jurnee as a Sweet Child
Jurnee’s cousin, Amya Burton-Lewis, remembered the 4-year-old as a sweet child with a personality that made her special to those around her.
“There was nobody like” Jurnee, Burton-Lewis told WTMJ, describing the young girl in loving terms.
Burton-Lewis also expressed sadness that the circumstances of Jurnee’s death were how many people would come to know her.
“I hate that this is how everybody has to know Jurnee,” she told the station.
According to Burton-Lewis, the children had reportedly been playing cops and robbers before the shooting. She also said the firearm had been securely stored beforehand and that she did not know how the child gained access to it.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed every detail of how the incident occurred.
Police Urge Gun Owners to Secure Firearms
Following the fatal shooting, local police urged gun owners to take extra precautions when storing firearms, emphasizing the importance of preventing children from accessing them.
The incident highlights the potential dangers when young children encounter unsecured or accessible firearms. Safe storage practices, including keeping firearms locked and inaccessible to children and storing ammunition securely, can help reduce the risk of accidental shootings.
Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding Jurnee’s death, including how the firearm was accessed.
The Milwaukee community is left grieving the loss of a 4-year-old girl as authorities work to establish the facts of the case.
