10-Year-Old Girl Dies in Accidental Shooting at Aiken County Home
Aiken County, South Carolina, is reeling from the tragic death of 10-year-old Miyah Harp, who was fatally shot on Monday night in what authorities have classified as an accidental shooting. The incident, which marks the second child shooting in the county within a 24-hour span, has intensified concerns about gun safety, child welfare, and the role of responsible parenting in homes with firearms.
The heartbreaking event unfolded at a home on Wendy Lane in Windsor around 9:57 p.m. According to Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables, Miyah suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 11 p.m. Preliminary investigations by law enforcement revealed that the incident occurred when a family member accidentally discharged a small-caliber rifle. Authorities noted that the firearm was being handled improperly, which tragically resulted in the young girl’s death. An autopsy has been scheduled in Newberry to confirm the details surrounding her passing.
Adding a troubling layer to the case, investigators discovered a significant quantity of illegal drugs at the residence. Deputies arrested Miyah's mother, 32-year-old Amalia Nicole Beltran, after finding between 28 and 100 grams of methamphetamine or cocaine base on the property. Beltran now faces serious drug trafficking charges. Law enforcement officials clarified that Beltran was not handling the firearm at the time of the shooting, but the presence of illegal substances in the home has raised critical questions about the environment in which the child lived.
This tragic accident is not an isolated incident. It follows another child shooting in Aiken County just hours earlier, underscoring an urgent need for community-wide action on firearm safety and education. Officials are urging parents and guardians to exercise extreme caution when storing and handling firearms, particularly in households with young children.
Miyah’s death has cast a dark shadow over the community, sparking grief and anger among residents. Local advocates have called for heightened public awareness campaigns about gun safety, emphasizing secure storage, the use of gun locks, and proper firearm training. In response to these events, some community leaders have renewed their push for legislative measures to enforce stricter gun ownership responsibilities.
The presence of illegal drugs at the home has added to the complexity of the investigation, highlighting the broader risks faced by children in unstable environments. The juxtaposition of drug trafficking charges with a child’s death has ignited calls for stronger support systems for at-risk families, including intervention programs aimed at improving home safety and child welfare.
In the days following the incident, local organizations and officials have expressed condolences to the Harp family while emphasizing the shared responsibility of the community in preventing similar tragedies. Law enforcement continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Miyah’s death, and the findings are expected to shed further light on the factors that contributed to this devastating event.
As Aiken County mourns the loss of a young life cut short, the community faces a pivotal moment to address the critical issues of gun safety and household stability. Miyah Harp’s tragic story serves as a stark reminder of the profound consequences of negligence and the urgent need for preventive measures to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
