Louisville man charged after 3-year-old daughter dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A 3-year-old girl died at the hospital after she shot herself in the Fern Creek area early Thursday, Louisville police said, and her father was arrested hours later.

Louisville Metro Police officers were sent to the 5500 block of Overbrook Woods Place in Fern Creek just before 9 a.m. after reports of a shooting. That's in a neighborhood off Fairground Road, near Bardstown Road.

A Louisville police spokesperson said the girl — identified by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office as Aubree Goss — was taken to Norton Children's Hospital in downtown Louisville, where she died from her injuries. Police said "it appears that the gunshot was self-inflicted," and all parties have been accounted for. The coroner's office said she died of a single gunshot wound.

Less than four hours after the shooting, E'Monta Goss was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to his arrest citation, Goss, 29, told police he loaded the gun and put it under the couch. Goss said he fell asleep and woke up to the sound of the gunshot.

A woman who lives nearby — who preferred not to share her identity— said she heard the sirens Thursday morning. By the time she got outside to see what happened, police cars were escorting the ambulance out of the complex.

"Very sad," the woman said. "I don't know who the child was, but it's just a 3-year-old has to lose their life."

Police are interviewing the girl's family members. The LMPD Homicide Unit is handling the investigation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 70 kids die each year in the Untied States due to unintentional gunfire. Kirby van Lierop, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, a nonprofit made up of advocates trying to end gun violence, said Thursday's tragedy is a reminder for people to safely store guns.

"When kids get ahold of guns that are stored unsecured ... tragedies like these can happen," van Lierop said.

Moms Demand Action says the "gold standard" to safely store guns is locked and separate from ammunition.

"Most kids can find lots of things in our house," van Lierop said. "They're very curious. So we need to make sure that we are being responsible with guns."

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