A Phoenix father has been indicted following the tragic death of his 5-year-old daughter, who was accidentally shot by her 9-year-old brother earlier this year. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced Wednesday that 33-year-old Irvin Ramos-Jimenez faces one felony count of child abuse classified as a domestic violence offense, along with a felony charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.
The fatal shooting occurred in June at a home near Sixth Avenue and Wier Avenue, south of Broadway Road. Police said Ramos-Jimenez initially misled investigators by claiming his daughter, Layla Ramos, had been stabbed.
As officers were on their way to the scene, they learned Ramos-Jimenez had driven off with Layla in an attempt to rush her to the hospital. Police intercepted him near a psychiatric center close to Seventh Avenue and Buckeye Road, where ambulances met them.
Emergency responders determined that Layla had been shot by her brother inside the family home. She was transported to a hospital but did not survive her injuries, according to local outlet Arizona’s Family.
According to court records, Ramos-Jimenez told investigators he was outside when he heard a loud bang. He said he ran into his son’s room and found Layla had been shot in the torso. Neighbors later reported seeing the boy run from the house screaming after the shooting.
Detectives said Ramos-Jimenez admitted he had kept an AR-style rifle on the top shelf of his son’s bedroom closet. He told police he believed his son must have taken it down before the fatal accident.
Investigators confirmed that the rifle used in the shooting belonged to Ramos-Jimenez, who has prior felony convictions for narcotics trafficking. Under federal and state law, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The case highlights the dangers of unsecured firearms in homes with children. Authorities emphasized that storing a weapon in a child’s bedroom created a deadly situation that could have been prevented.
“Firearms must be stored responsibly,” prosecutors said in announcing the indictment. “This tragedy was the direct result of a weapon being left accessible to a child.”
Layla was remembered in a fundraiser as “so loving, smart, and a truly beautiful soul” — a “little princess who got her wings way too soon.”
Ramos-Jimenez was taken into custody shortly after the incident and now faces significant prison time if convicted. The child abuse charge reflects prosecutors’ view that his actions directly endangered his children’s safety.
The community continues to mourn the loss of Layla, remembered by neighbors as a joyful little girl. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences that can come from improperly stored firearms in family homes.