In a heart-wrenching incident in Columbia, South Carolina, a two-year-old girl named Heaven Miller, who was Black/African American, lost her life on September 1, 2016. The tragic event unfolded at her family's townhome in the evening, around 6:30 p.m. Heaven succumbed to a gunshot wound to her upper body and was pronounced dead at Palmetto Health Richland hospital shortly after her arrival.
The circumstances surrounding Heaven's death were described as a tragic accident.
Her father, 30-year-old Dominique Miller, was reportedly attempting to unload or make his handgun safe when it accidentally discharged. The single bullet not only struck and killed Heaven but also injured her four-year-old sister, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries and required surgery. Dominique Miller also suffered a graze wound to his hand during the incident. According to reports, Miller told deputies that the gun misfired as he was cleaning it on the family's porch.
Following an investigation by the Richland County Sheriff's Department, Dominique Miller faced legal consequences for his role in the fatal shooting. He was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter and unlawful conduct towards a child. Authorities stated that the charges stemmed from negligent behavior and a reckless disregard for the safety of his children. The Richland County Sheriff, Leon Lott, initially stated that the shooting appeared accidental, but an investigation was necessary to confirm the details. The tragic loss of young Heaven Miller also occurred just before her mother went into labor with another child.
