Disturbers

A 5-year-old boy shot and killed his 2-year-old sister, Caroline Starks using a .22 caliber rifle that he received as a gift.

The children’s mother was home at the time of the shooting. The little girl was quickly sent to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Cumberland County Coroner Gary White explained that the rifle was given to the boy last year as a birthday present and he was “trained” in using it. Unfortunately, the gun was kept in the house and the family failed to realize that it was still loaded.

The gun, dubbed “My First Rifle” is a Crickett rifle, a smaller weapon designed for and marketed to little kids. In the website, the rifle is designed similar to a toy and comes in different colors and styles.

“The little Crickett rifle is a single-shot rifle and it has a child safety,” White said. “This was just a tragic accident.”

The death is ruled as accidental.