Accidental Shotgun Blast Kills Girl, 14

A 14-year-old Glendora girl died early Sunday morning after accidentally shooting herself with a shotgun while baby-sitting a niece and nephew at her sister’s house in Baldwin Park.

Baldwin Park police said Trisha Umberto armed herself with the gun after an argument with her older brother.

The 12-gauge shotgun accidentally discharged--fatally wounding the girl in the chest--when she tapped its stock on the floor shortly after midnight.

“There’s nothing to indicate that it’s anything other than an accidental shooting,” said Lt. Michael Bennett.

Trisha’s brother, described by police as a man in his 30s, arrived at the house Saturday night, argued with the girl and left, according to police, who said they did not know what the argument was about.

Trisha then got the shotgun, which her sister’s family kept in their Rockenbach Street home, and loaded it, police said.

“The girl for an unknown reason feared the brother would return and feared for her safety,” Bennett said.

A friend of Trisha’s, a teen-age girl who was spending the evening with her, witnessed the shooting. Trisha’s 5-year-old niece and 2-year-old nephew were asleep.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.