A 5-year-old girl in south Fort Worth died after an accidental shooting on Sept. 5, authorities and the medical examiner’s office confirm, prompting renewed warnings from physicians and gun-safety experts about the role of unsecured firearms in child deaths across Tarrant County.
The medical examiner identified the child as Nhilynn Serenity Raell Robinson. Fort Worth police said early investigative information indicates the shooting was accidental. No additional circumstances about how the child obtained the firearm were released by investigators as of Thursday.
Local data underline a growing public-health concern
Federal data and local health-system figures presented by doctors at Cook Children’s Medical Center show firearms are now the leading cause of death for people ages 1 through 19 in Tarrant County. Between 2020 and 2024, federal numbers show 215 children and teenagers in that age range were killed by firearms in the county.
Cook Children’s provided additional recent statistics: between 2023 and 2025 the system treated 121 children for unintentional gunshot injuries, five of which were fatal. Those totals feed into concerns voiced by emergency physicians that more must be done to prevent access to guns by young children.
Medical voices urge immediate action on safe storage
Physicians say proven, practical steps can reduce these tragedies. “Why are we waiting for the next accident to talk about this?” asked an emergency physician with Cook Children’s, underscoring the urgency clinicians feel around preventable firearm injuries.
“Why are we waiting for the next accident to talk about this?”
Experts point to secure storage as the single most effective measure for preventing unintentional shootings, suicides and some homicides involving children. A review of unintentional child gun deaths in the U.S. found that in more than 90% of cases the firearm was unlocked and loaded, according to public-health reviews cited by physicians.
Practical safety steps for Fort Worth households
Gun-safety specialists recommend a set of clear precautions that local gun owners can adopt immediately to reduce risk for children:
- Store all firearms unloaded and locked in a secure container such as a safe or lockbox.
- Keep ammunition stored separately from firearms and also secured.
- Use additional safety devices like cable locks or trigger locks even when firearms are kept locked away.
- Educate household members and visitors about the presence of firearms and the importance of never handling them without adult supervision.
- Consider community resources such as free or low-cost lock distribution programs and firearms-safety training offered by local law enforcement and health groups.
Dr. Katherine Hoops, a pediatric critical care physician and a director at the Center for Gun Violence Solutions at Johns Hopkins, said the “gold standard” is to keep guns unloaded and locked and to separate them from ammunition. She advocates a simple motto: “every gun, every time.”
What the numbers mean for Fort Worth
For Fort Worth families and community leaders, the statistics underline a preventable risk within homes. Clinicians at Cook Children’s who treat injured children say they continue to see cases where access to an unsecured weapon results in accidental shootings.
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Child and teen firearm deaths in Tarrant County (2020–2024) | 215 |
| Children treated at Cook Children’s for unintentional gunshot injuries (2023–2025) | 121 (5 fatal) |
Local officials have not announced additional policy changes in response to the Fort Worth death. Investigators with the Fort Worth Police Department continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident on Sept. 5; the department has not released information about whether any charges will be filed.
Physicians and gun-safety advocates say the best immediate step Fort Worth residents can take is to secure firearms at home. For families seeking resources, Cook Children’s and other local organizations can provide guidance about safe-storage devices and education programs aimed at preventing further tragedies.
