A mother sought in the shooting death of her 11-year-old daughter by her toddler has surrendered to authorities.
Tiffany Goldwire, 31, turned herself in early Thursday afternoon at Philadelphia Police headquarters to face an involuntary manslaughter charge.
Defense attorney Eugene Tinari called the April 5 death of Jamara Stevens an "unspeakable tragedy."
Stevens was playing with her brothers and sisters inside the Goldwire's Mantua bedroom on April 5, when her 2-year-old brother cocked the gun, pointed it at the girl and pulled the trigger. The bullet sailed through the girl's arm and into her chest and heart. She died at the hospital.
Investigators said they believe Goldwire's boyfriend had brought the weapon into the home a few hours earlier and stashed it on top of a refrigerator. The woman's 14-year-old son then took the gun and began playing with it with his siblings, police said.
Tinari said he believes prosecutors will see that the shooting "was an accident and not a criminal act" on the part of his client.
Photo: Jamara Stevens
