Mia Andujar was a radiant spirit whose life, though brief, was filled with joy, laughter, and boundless energy. The 7-year-old Black girl from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was described as having a vibrant personality that was both smart and courageous. Her smile could light up a room, and she approached life with a curiosity that knew no bounds.
On the afternoon of November 3, 2024, Mia’s life was tragically cut short inside a home in the city's Juniata Park neighborhood.
Mia was on the second floor of the residence on the 3800 block of I Street with two other small children, including a toddler, while two adults were downstairs. A visitor to the home, Alan Nguyen, had left an unsecured handgun in one of the rooms. Mia and the toddler went into the room, where Mia picked up the gun and accidentally shot herself in the face.
Police were called to the home at approximately 2:30 p.m. for a report of a shooting. Officers found Mia with a critical gunshot wound and rushed her to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. She was pronounced dead there a short time later, at 2:39 p.m. Investigators recovered a firearm at the scene and quickly determined the shooting was a tragic accident.
In connection with the shooting, police arrested 24-year-old Alan Nguyen. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, and recklessly endangering another person. Nguyen later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, admitting that he had left the gun accessible in the home. In February 2026, Judge Scott O’Keefe sentenced him to serve 11.5 to 23 months in jail.
