Yasha Ross, a three-year-old from Pittsburgh, tragically died from a gunshot wound on March 12, 2017. The incident occurred while Yasha’s mother, Michelle Gandy, and two other adults were reportedly smoking marijuana in the basement of a home in the Mt. Washington neighborhood. Yasha was upstairs when she managed to get hold of a 9mm handgun belonging to Paul Parrish, a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms.
After Yasha accidentally shot herself in the chest, her mother rushed her to Allegheny General Hospital, but the child succumbed to her injuries shortly after arriving.
The gun involved in the shooting was not stored securely and was found on the floor, contrary to Parrish’s claim that it was kept in a safe. Authorities charged Parrish with illegally possessing a firearm, and law enforcement raised concerns about the accessibility of the weapon and the circumstances leading up to the incident. The investigation also suggested that a third party might have illegally purchased the gun on Parrish’s behalf. Following the tragedy, Parrish faced further legal scrutiny for his longstanding criminal record, which included violent offenses and previous firearm violations. The case sparked a deeper conversation in the community about gun access and the potential consequences of firearm presence in homes where children are present.
