Teenage Brother Shoots, Kills 4-Year-Old Sister

By Margaret Lyons in News on Dec 3, 2007 3:57PM

Jaylnn Hall, 4, died early yesterday morning after her 15-year-old brother shot her in the chest, apparently accidentally. Her mother, whose name hasn't been released, is a Cook County corrections officer, and the 9mm handgun used in the shooting is her "duty weapon," which corrections officers are allowed to carry outside of jail. The mom was at work at the time of the shooting, and she's been "de-deputized," which is standard procedure according to a Sheriff's department spokeswoman.

This isn't the first time Jaylnn's brother has been involved with guns. Neighbors say they've seen him fire a gun in the backyard before, and he was suspended recently for bringing a weapon to school. The family's lawyer denies that the teenager ever fired a gun and says he brought the gun to school for protection. No charges have been filed in Jaylnn's death. God, what a sad story.