LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) is investigating after a young girl was fatally shot at an apartment complex in Fern Creek Thursday morning.
According to police, the shooting happened in the 5500 block of Overbrook Woods Place just before 9 a.m.
LMPD said officers found the child, later identified as Aubree Goss, at the apartment complex suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. She was transported to Norton Children's Hospital by EMS, but later died from her injuries.
LMPD said the child's father, E'Monta Goss, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and possession of a handgun as a person with prior felony convictions out of Michigan.
According to E'Monta's arrest citation, he admitted to police that he "loaded and placed the handgun underneath a couch inside the apartment."
He said he fell asleep and woke up to the sound of a gunshot and noticed Aubree had been shot.
"It's a bad time any child falls victim of somebody else's negligence," said Louisville safe gun storage advocate, Khalid Raheem.
Raheem believes in the second amendment right, but also said "accountability and responsibility goes a long way with everything", especially when children are involved.
"These babies and our children are everywhere," said Raheem. "They're under the pillow. They're on top of the cabinet. You can't just sit your weapon down and walk to the restroom real quick."
Fern Creek Metro Councilmember Robin Engel shared a similar remark.
"But to have a loaded gun with a young child, we know what kids can get themselves into," said Engel.
WHAS11 News asked Engel if he believed there should be changes made, such as ordinances or legislation about gun storage.
"This is tragic, but a gentleman was arrested this afternoon for this crime," said Engel.
But Raheem called for change.
"We need to have more education on what it is to have a weapon, what it is to have that knowledge or power and how we could fall accountable," said Raheem.
Louisville Senator Gerald Neal sponsored a bill, SB56, last legislative session that would require gun owners to safely secure their firearm, whether that in a safe or rendering it unable to be fired with a lock. It never made it to the floor for a vote.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or X feed.