Arizona Father Indicted on Multiple Felony Charges After 9-Year-Old Son Fatally Shoots 5-Year-Old Sister
Authorities say an AR-style rifle stored in a child’s bedroom was accessible to a nine-year-old; the weapon was obtained via private sale, with the owner subject to firearm restrictions.
An Arizona father faces felony charges after his nine-year-old son used an AR-style rifle to fatally shoot his five-year-old sister inside the family home on June 3, authorities said.
Maricopa County prosecutors announced on Wednesday that Irvin Ramos-Jimenez, 33, had been indicted on one count of child abuse, a class three dangerous felony, and a domestic violence offense. He also faces felony charges for misconduct involving weapons and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The rifle had been stored on a high shelf in the nine-year-old's bedroom closet, giving the boy access. Investigators say the gun was pulled from its storage and fired, striking Layla Ramos, 5, in the torso. Layla was initially treated at a psychiatric hospital before being transferred to a trauma hospital, where she died.
Ramos-Jimenez fled from the psychiatric ward when ambulances arrived to take his daughter to the trauma hospital and later returned home to look after his remaining children, with the illegally owned AR-style rifle still in the house, 12 News reported. He was arrested that day on the weapons offense.
The defendant had a prior drug-trafficking conviction and was not legally permitted to own a firearm. Authorities say he bought the weapon illegally through a private sale for personal protection, despite admitting to police that he knew he was not allowed to own a gun. Arizona law does not require private gun sellers to perform background checks.
The case has multiple strands. A jury in Phoenix indicted Ramos-Jimenez on one count of child abuse in August. The latest indictment expands the charges tied to the June 3 shooting and practice sessions cited by investigators.
Layla’s family described her as a "little princess who got her wings way too soon" and launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses. Her family said the girl was loving, smart and a bright presence in their lives. The fundraiser remains active as the family prepares for the March 2026 trial, when Ramos-Jimenez is expected to face the charges in Phoenix.
The incident has rekindled ongoing policy debates over gun storage, access, and private sales in Arizona, including questions about background checks and firearm possession restrictions. Advocates say stricter storage and sale rules could reduce child access to guns, while opponents warn against overreach on private transactions. The case highlights the difficult balance that lawmakers and communities continue to negotiate in U.S. politics around gun safety and family security.