Key Facts

• The 10-year-old allegedly shot his 7-month-old niece in the head inside their home.
• The gun was reportedly stored under a mattress and was accessible to the children.
• The infant was taken to the hospital but died from the injuries.
• The father, 19-year-old Ca’Marion Pawnell, was charged with second-degree murder and multiple child endangerment counts.
• Pawnell admitted the gun belonged to him and said he kept it under the mattress.
• The 10-year-old told investigators he knew where the gun was and had handled it before.
• Children under 12 in Missouri cannot be tried as adults, so the boy will be tried in juvenile court.
• The 10-year-old is in the custody of Missouri Children’s Division and is undergoing psychiatric evaluation.