On Sunday night, September 3, an 18-month-old girl suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head in Palm Coast, Florida. The tragedy unfolded at a residence located on Ranwood Lane near Randolph Drive. A 911 call was made to the Flagler Sheriff’s Office around 11:45 pm, reporting the shooting.
Upon arrival, officers found the toddler with a severe head injury. Investigators identified the weapon as an American tactical multiple-caliber assault pistol. Following the incident, the injured child was rushed to a local hospital where she was later declared dead.
In a subsequent news conference held on Monday, September 4, Sheriff Rick Staly named C.J. Nelson Jr., 21, as a person of interest. Nelson had been taken into custody for violating his probation terms. Notably, his prior probation was linked to a gun-related offense, and he was expressly forbidden from owning firearms. Sheriff Staly, however, has not yet confirmed if Nelson was the owner of the weapon used in this tragic event.
At the time of the shooting, there were eight individuals in the home, including the child’s mother. Sheriff Staly reported that, thus far, none have provided details to aid the investigation. Detectives are now working diligently to understand the events leading up to the shooting and to ascertain whether it was an accident.
Collaborating in the ongoing inquiry are the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office, working alongside the Flagler Sheriff’s Office.