A Louisville father is behind bars after his three-year-old daughter got hold of his loaded gun and fatally shot herself.

On Thursday morning police responded to the Overbrook Apartments in Fern Creek. When they arrived they found 3-year-old Aubrey Goss shot, WDRB News reported.

According to the police report her father EMonta Goss admitted to loading the gun and placing it under a couch cushion. He said he fell asleep and woke up to the sound of the gunshot.

The baby girl was taken to a local children’s hospital with a police escort but died in the emergency room. Goss was charged with second-degree manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

A neighbor, who chose to remain anonymous, said she knew something was not right when she saw an ambulance and police. She did not know what happened until news crews informed her, but she called the situation “tragic.”

“It’s very sad I don’t know who the child was but it’s just sad that a three-year-old has to lose their life,” she said. “I just pray this is a really tragic story.”

In light of the incident, Mom’s Demand Action Kentucky, a group who advocates to end gun violence, reminds parents to be careful where they store loaded weapons in a house with children. Mom’s Demand Action says the gold standard to safely store guns is locked and separate from ammunition.

“Most kids can find lots of lots things in our house, they’re very curious so we need to make sure that we are being responsible with guns,” Kirby Van Lierop with MDA said.

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