Family in shock as three year old killed by gunshot in NSW

THE father of a Sydney girl who died from a gunshot wound to the neck will remain behind bars on firearms charges related to an unlicensed sawn-off shotgun.

Paramedics were called to a Lalor Park home in the city’s west about 8pm on Sunday amid reports a child had been shot.

The three-year-old girl was in the home with her mother and three other young siblings when the incident occurred, police said.

It is unclear how the child sustained the single fatal gunshot wound, but forensic police are investigating whether she accidentally fired the weapon herself.

The girl’s 43-year-old father, of Arncliffe, was charged yesterday morning with possessing an unregistered sawn-off shotgun.

He was also charged with possessing the weapon without a licence and not storing the weapon safely.

Police also charged him with contravening domestic violence orders.

The 43-year-old appeared before Blacktown Local Court and did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

He is scheduled to appear before the same court again on September 1.

“At the time of the incident, the child’s mother and other children were in the house and the child’s father was nearby,” NSW Police Quakers Hill Commander, Superintendent Paul Carrett, told reporters.

“The death of a three-yearold child under any circumstances is tragic.

“It is tragic for the family and it is tragic for the police and other emergency services who attend these scenes.”