On December 6, 2024, 22-year-old Jessinya Mina tragically lost her life in an accidental shooting at her Fresno, California apartment. The incident occurred when her 2-year-old son found an unsecured 9mm handgun in the bedroom and discharged it, fatally injuring Mina as she lay in bed.
Mina was a devoted mother to two young children, an 8-month-old daughter and a 2-year-old son. She was also in the process of returning to cosmetology school to further her career.
The firearm involved belonged to Mina's 18-year-old boyfriend, Andrew Sanchez. Investigations revealed that Sanchez had left the loaded handgun in a location accessible to the children, leading to the tragic accident. He was arrested and charged with felony child endangerment and felony criminal storage of a firearm. Sanchez has no prior criminal history and was released on bail following his arrest.
Mina's sister, Jessica Rodriguez, expressed profound grief over the loss, highlighting that Mina had previously requested that no firearms be kept in their home. Rodriguez described her sister as a loving and caring individual who always gave selflessly. She also initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses and support for Mina's children.
This incident underscores the critical importance of securely storing firearms, especially in households with young children, to prevent such preventable tragedies.
