Grandmother charged in accidental shooting death of 8-year-old boy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A 48-year-old woman has been charged in connection with the accidental shooting death of her 8-year-old grandson in East Nashville last month.

Metro police reported Phillip’e Woodard died when he shot himself in the face with a shotgun at a home in the 1200 block of North 2nd Street on the night of Saturday, Sept. 14.

According to police, Phillip’e and a 10-year-old found a shotgun while a 16-year-old was asleep in the home.

On Wednesday, Gracie Mimms was charged with criminal homicide and child neglect. She told officers she had been watching the children in the home before she left to visit a family member.

Mimms reportedly admitted to investigators she left the children in a room where the shotgun, which she thought was unloaded, was located.

After the shooting, officers found four live rounds in the magazine, according to court documents. Investigators determined Mimms’ lack of supervision was the reason for her grandson’s death.

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Mimms was booked into the Metro jail on a $150,000 bond.

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