9-year-old tragically shot by another child after the 2 women watching them left 4 kids by themselves to go grocery shopping

A heartbreaking case from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has drawn renewed attention after one of the adults connected to the incident avoided prison time. The case centers on a 9-year-old girl who was shot inside an apartment after two women responsible for supervising four young children left them alone while they went grocery shopping.

Authorities said the shooting occurred on Nov. 8, 2024, and involved a group of children who had been left without adult supervision. Court records and police investigations later revealed troubling details about the conditions inside the apartment, the unsecured firearm involved, and the circumstances that led to the shooting.

Woman Sentenced After Pleading Guilty

On June 12, 2026, 24-year-old Vanta’jah Westmoreland was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to three counts of being a party to a crime of child neglect. Prosecutors linked her actions to the shooting incident that left a 9-year-old girl seriously injured.

Westmoreland was the girlfriend of 29-year-old Nakia Piggee, the mother of the victim. Authorities alleged that both women were responsible for supervising the children at the time of the shooting.

The sentence means Westmoreland will avoid prison, though she will remain under court supervision during her probation period.

Children Left Alone While Adults Went Shopping

According to the criminal complaint, Westmoreland and Piggee left four children alone in a Milwaukee apartment for approximately 40 minutes while they went grocery shopping.

The children ranged in age from 2 to 9 years old. They included:

• A 9-year-old girl, who later became the shooting victim
• An 8-year-old child
• A 4-year-old boy
• A disabled 2-year-old child

Investigators argued that leaving such young children unattended created an extremely dangerous situation, especially because a loaded firearm was accessible inside the apartment.

Emergency Call Leads Police to the Scene

The incident came to light when Piggee called 911 to report that her daughter had been shot.

When officers arrived, they found the 9-year-old girl lying face-down on the living room floor. She had suffered a gunshot wound to the upper right side of her back.

Despite her injuries, the child remained conscious and was able to communicate with responding officers. Police immediately began trying to determine what had happened inside the apartment while emergency medical care was provided.

Victim Identifies the Child She Believed Fired the Gun

As officers questioned the injured girl, she reportedly indicated that the shooter was male. She then pointed toward a 4-year-old boy who was sitting in a chair in the kitchen area.

Moments later, the girl’s condition appeared to worsen. Officers reported that she began coughing and making gurgling sounds, prompting immediate emergency intervention.

One officer applied a chest seal to the wound before the child was transported to a hospital for further treatment. Fortunately, despite the severity of the injury, the girl survived.

Investigation Reveals Questions About Who Fired the Weapon

The investigation uncovered conflicting accounts regarding exactly how the shooting occurred.

Police interviewed the 4-year-old boy, who allegedly told investigators that “Aunt Kiki” — a nickname reportedly used for Nakia Piggee — kept the gun underneath a bed.

The boy later told his mother that an 8-year-old girl had fired the weapon.

When investigators spoke with the 8-year-old, she admitted that she took the gun away after the younger boy found it under a mattress. She claimed the firearm discharged after she took possession of it.

Detectives noted that when they asked her to explain precisely how she was holding the gun when it fired, she appeared nervous and paused before ultimately blaming the shooting on the 4-year-old boy.

Because of the differing statements and the ages of the children involved, investigators faced challenges in determining exactly who pulled the trigger.

Police Discover Disturbing Conditions Inside the Apartment

While conducting a protective sweep of the residence, officers described finding extremely poor living conditions.

According to the complaint, the apartment was filthy and cluttered with food, dirty clothing, cigarette ashes, and plastic bottles.

The bedroom conditions were equally troubling. Investigators reported finding liquor bottles, ashtrays, cigarette ashes, and diapers scattered throughout the room.

Disabled Toddler Found in Crib Amid Dangerous Environment

One of the most concerning discoveries involved the disabled 2-year-old child who had been left alone with the other children.

Police found the toddler in a crib. The child reportedly had casts on both arms, relied on a feeding tube, and required supplemental oxygen to breathe.

The child’s medical condition heightened concerns among investigators regarding the decision to leave the children unattended for an extended period.

Evidence Found Near the Shooting Scene

Inside the bedroom, investigators discovered several pieces of evidence connected to the shooting.

Among the items recovered were:

• A spent 9 mm Hornady Luger shell casing
• A bloody T-shirt that appeared to have been struck by a bullet
• A bloody blanket

The shell casing was reportedly located between the toddler’s crib and a dirty queen-sized mattress.

Firearm Hidden by Neighbor After Shooting

During the investigation, Westmoreland informed police that a 16-year-old neighbor had removed the gun from the apartment after the shooting.

According to her statement, the teenager took the firearm to his own apartment because he did not want anyone to get into trouble.

Police later recovered the weapon, identified as a 9 mm Hi-Point handgun. The firearm was reportedly wrapped inside a pair of black sweatpants when officers located it in the neighbor’s residence.

Investigators Say Gun Was Not Properly Secured

Detectives found no evidence that the firearm had been stored using basic safety measures.

The complaint specifically noted the absence of a gun safe, trigger lock, or any other firearm-security device.

Piggee later told investigators that the handgun belonged to Westmoreland and had been stored under a mattress. She reportedly admitted that she had forgotten the weapon was there.

Earlier Plea Agreement for the Victim’s Mother

The case against Nakia Piggee was resolved before Westmoreland’s sentencing.

In April 2025, Piggee pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor child-neglect charges stemming from the same incident.

She was also sentenced to two years of probation. Prosecutors argued that her decision to leave the children alone contributed directly to the dangerous circumstances that led to the shooting.

A Tragedy That Could Have Been Prevented

The Milwaukee shooting has become another example cited by child-safety advocates and law enforcement officials regarding the dangers of leaving children unsupervised around unsecured firearms.

Investigators concluded that multiple factors contributed to the incident, including the decision to leave four young children alone, the presence of an accessible handgun inside the apartment, and the lack of basic firearm-safety measures.

Although the 9-year-old girl survived her injuries, the case resulted in criminal charges for both adults responsible for supervising the children and serves as a stark reminder of the consequences that can arise when firearms are not properly secured around minors.