After 6-year-old Emily Lavender was accidently shot and killed by her 2-year-old half brother, police served a search warrant and found 53 firearms. Lavender was a first grader at Maple Creek Elementary.
"Emily was very sweet and a loving, loving young girl here at maple creek and she's going to be missed," said Gina Kimset, the Principal at Maple Creek Elementary.
Police say the 6-year-old was accidentally shot and killed by her two-year-old half brother, who somehow got a hold of a loaded, semi-automatic hand gun. The boy then walked into the room where Emily was playing with other siblings and the gun discharged, hitting Emily in the torso.
"This has happened before at this school where there’s been other kids who've died and they've managed to handle it," said Bill Heron, a Grandparent of a Maple Creek student.
Older students at Maple Creek have dealt with death in the past, two other students have died in recent years as well as a former Vice Principal.
"Our staff unfortunately has had to deal with some instances like this in the past. and we just naturally come together," said Kimset.
Grief Counselors are available and the school says they know each student will react differently. So parents and faculty need to be very involved. "Reaching out on an individual level, letting kids know and parents know that not only do you have an opportunity through your classroom teacher, but through the school psychologist. i know we had several parents take advantage of that," said Kelly Avants, a Spokesperson for Clovis Unified School District.
"And you just tell them how precious life is and how much you love them each and every day," said another Parent.
Police say charges are pending for criminal storage of firearms and a firearm causing great bodily injury. Arrests will be made at the conclusion of the investigation.
