Phoenix Daniels was a four-year-old girl who died after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her home in Grovetown, Georgia. The shooting happened on May 29, 2023; she was hospitalized and died of her injuries on July 1, 2023.

Investigators say her father, 24-year-old Daveon Daniels, left a loaded 9mm Glock on the floor while he stepped away to take a phone call. He reported hearing a gunshot, finding Phoenix injured, and—along with a family member—taking her to the hospital. Authorities found the firearm had been illegally modified to fire fully automatically. Daveon Daniels was taken into custody and charged with possession of a machine gun, second-degree cruelty to children, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; additional charges in connection with Phoenix’s death are expected.

If anyone knew Phoenix or has information about how the firearm came to be modified or left accessible in the home, please come forward.