In late morning on a Saturday in LaPlace, Louisiana, five-year-old Haley Moore was at her father’s home on Country Club Drive when she found an unsecured .45 caliber handgun left on a table. Her father, Eric Moore, had gone to take a shower and was the only adult in the residence. Haley shot herself once in the chest area; her father heard the gunshot and discovered her in the kitchen, then called 911 at 9:44 a.m.

Emergency medical services found Haley alive and transported her to a nearby hospital, but she later died of her injuries. The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated and determined the incident to be a tragic accident. Neighbors said Haley’s father, a military veteran, was known to be conscious of gun safety; no arrests were made.

If anyone was in the area that morning or has additional information about how the firearm came to be accessible, please share what is known.