Man fatally shot eight-year-old daughter while teaching children about gun safety, police say

Authorities in Wisconsin have charged a father who admitted to fatally shooting his eight-year-old daughter while he was teaching her and other children about gun safety. According to PEOPLE, the botched and fatal gun safety demonstration happened at the family’s home on Saturday.

The accused, identified as 47-year-old Michael Anthony Huddleston, has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide and felony possession of a firearm by a felon.

The Milwaukee Police said Tiana Huddleston was struck in the chest during the demonstration, and several of the minor’s siblings were around at the time of the incident. “The suspect was handling a firearm that discharged,” police said in a statement. “The gunfire subsequently struck an 8-year-old girl. The victim arrived at a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.”

Per the criminal complaint of the incident, Huddleston told investigators he accidentally discharged his firearm while he was teaching his children about gun safety, the Associated Press and WITI reported. Following the shooting, Huddleston reportedly transported the wounded minor to the hospital.

Officers later went to the hospital after workers at the facility reported the shooting to police. Huddleston told officers what happened was a “mistake”, adding that he thought there weren’t any bullets in the gun. He also said he thought the weapon’s safety had been activated, Associated Press and WITI reported.

Huddleston also told investigators he unintentionally fired the weapon while he was “showing off” to his daughter as well as other children. The accused father said he “shouldn’t have tried to do no extra in front of the kids” and “I did it … I didn’t try to, big mistake.”

After he got to know his daughter had succumbed to her injuries, Huddleston allegedly said, “I can’t believe this [expletive] happened … I killed my own [expletive] daughter.”

The 47-year-old also said he had consumed tequila prior to engaging the children in the demonstration. A GoFundMe has since been set up to help raise funds for Tiana’s funeral.