Yanelly Marie Christine "Nelly" Zoller, a 4-year-old girl from Tampa, Florida, tragically died on September 14, 2017. The incident occurred at the home of her grandparents, Christine and Michael Zoller. Nelly, who was looking for sweets in her grandmother's purse, accidentally pulled the trigger of a gun that was inside the bag. The gun discharged, and she was fatally shot in the chest.
Her father, Shane Zoller, recounted that he was on his way to pick her up for a trip to the splash pads when he arrived to find the police at the scene.
Nelly's death was ruled an accident by the authorities. The gun was legally owned, and both grandparents were present in the house when the incident occurred. The young girl's father, Shane Zoller, was in high school when Nelly was born, and his parents had been helping him raise her. Nelly was described as being very attached to her grandmother and excited to stay at her grandparents' home.
Following the incident, Nelly's mother, Lizette Hernandez, who lived separately from Shane Zoller, sought full-time custody of her 19-month-old son. She expressed distrust towards Shane, citing inconsistencies in his accounts of the incident. Initially, he told her that Nelly was shot during a drive-by shooting, and later claimed the gun was on a table. Lizette Hernandez, who was 28 weeks pregnant at the time, was deeply affected by the loss and was determined to protect her remaining child.
There were no arrests or charges filed in connection with Nelly's death, as it was deemed an accidental shooting. The case did not lead to any further litigation or criminal investigations. The tragic event highlighted the dangers of unsecured firearms in homes, especially around young children. Nelly's story serves as a somber reminder of the importance of gun safety and the devastating impact of such accidents on families.
