In a heart-wrenching incident on Saturday night, 13-year-old Dearria Radley was fatally shot inside her family’s Edgehill Avenue home in what is being reported by her mother as a tragic accident. The Nashville Police Department responded to the emergency call at 9:58 p.m., where officers from the Midtown Hills Precinct provided immediate aid to the young girl.
Dearria was rushed to Vanderbilt’s Pediatric Emergency Room, but despite the efforts to save her, she succumbed to her injuries from a single gunshot wound. The preliminary investigation into the tragic event revealed that the shot was fired from a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that was unholstered and kept in the mother’s purse along with other items. The discharge occurred as the mother was attempting to retrieve her keys from the purse.
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During an interview at police headquarters, Dearria’s mother detailed the circumstances leading to the accidental discharge of the firearm. As of now, no charges have been filed, but the investigation remains ongoing. The Nashville Police Department’s Youth Services Division is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident to determine the full scope of what occurred on that fateful evening.
The community and the police department express their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dearria Radley during this incredibly difficult time. The Nashville Police Department also takes this moment to remind the public of the importance of gun safety and secure storage of firearms to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
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