A toddler was tragically shot dead by her 5-year-old sibling just moments after neighbours reported hearing "screaming."
The shocking incident happened in Cumberland, Indiana, US, on Wednesday afternoon after police were called to a flat and found toddler Deor Nita, 4, dead in an upstairs room.
According to Police Chief Suzanne Woodland, the four siblings, all under 5, were playing together when Deor was shot dead.
The children were being looked after by their great-great grandmother while their mum was at work.
It remains unclear how the toddler was able to get access to the gun or who owns it.
Ms Woodland said: “It’s just awful. It makes no sense. People carry guns without safety devices and this is what happen.
"They have no respect for firearms and just the massive power they have and what they can do to people."
Neighbour Tristan Tex was working from home when he heard the screaming, he told IndyStar: "It was about 4:30 when I started hearing screams and sirens.
"I walked outside to this nightmare."
The tragic incident has reinforced his decision to sell his home and leave the area after claiming crime in the area has "gotten insane."
"We have to move. We just have to," Mr Tex said. "The crime around Indianapolis has gotten insane."
Dozens of concerned neighbours were outside the flat including 36-year-old Leonard Cook who was watching with a pistol strapped to his hip.
“I have a license to carry,” Mr Cook said. “When it’s not on me, it’s locked up, and I make sure my kids know not to play with it. ... Guns aren’t toys. They’re nothing to be played with. They shouldn’t even make toy guns because guns aren’t toys.”
Police chiefs has urged people to get gun locks which are available from police and fire stations.
"We have tons of them at our station. We will be happy to give them to you," Ms Woodland said.
"People should put their firearms away and not carelessly lay them around their houses. This is a tragic situation and my heart goes out to them."
According to Everytown Research & Policy, an organisation who tracks media reports involving kids under 18 unintentionally shooting themselves or someone else, there have been at least 186 unintentional shootings by kids this year.
66 people have died and 128 left injured which is on par with last year's tallies, the group said.
Just last month, a 6-year-old boy shot his younger sibling in the face and shoulder in Detroit.
Police said a loaded, semi-automatic weapon had been left in the home when the child got access and fired at his baby brother.
Their mum was down the street and their dad was in the garden when the tragic incident occured.
