A tragic incident unfolded in St. Louis County as a 4-year-old girl, identified as Aubreeyonna Muex, was fatally shot, leading to the arrest of her grandmother, Detrice Young, 56, who now faces multiple charges. According to 5 On Your Side, Young was arrested on counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Investigators reported that a single gunshot awoke the adults in the home, and upon arriving at the scene, they found Young with the injured child and a 2-year-old.
The details provided by the St. Louis County Police Department revealed that Young admitted to sleeping with the gun under her pillow, a habit she seemingly could not forsake even for a night, despite the presence of children in the home. Neighbors, who were kept from accessing their homes for over two hours due to the police investigation, declined to speak on camera, as detailed by 5 On Your Side. Young is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.
The shooting has also been reported by Spectrum Local News, who confirmed that Young was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child Creating Substantial Risk and Endangering the Welfare of a Child First Degree Resulting in Death. In addition, court documents indicated that Young was the sole gun owner in the residence and left the firearm unsecured on the day of the incident.
A further account by First Alert 4 revealed that when officers arrived at the 10500 block of Castle Drive in response to the shooting, they quickly needed to provide emergency aid. Muex was rushed to Christian Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The reported facts state that the fatal shot was fired while adults, including Muex's two aunts, were asleep, and discovered the aftermath upon being startled awake.
This heartbreaking event underscores the importance of proper firearm safety and storage within the home, particularly when children are present. As per 5 On Your Side, the CDC advises that firearms should be completely inaccessible to prevent accidental discharge by children or unauthorized adults.
