In the quiet setting of Cle Elum, Washington, a weekend visit turned into a devastating tragedy for 12-year-old Sydney Darnell, a Caucasian female from Arlington. On Sunday, May 27, 2018, Sydney was spending time with her mother, Kiara Darnell, at the home of her mother's boyfriend, 52-year-old Sean Frick. The afternoon was spent target practicing with a. 22-caliber lever-action rifle, an activity that would have unforeseen and fatal consequences.
After firing the rifle, Sydney set it down on a deck railing to go and check her target. It was at this moment that Frick noticed the rifle had been left loaded with the hammer cocked. In an attempt to make the firearm safe, he tried to lower the hammer. Tragically, the gun discharged. Sydney, who had just stepped off the deck, was in the direct path of the bullet and was struck in the head.
In the immediate aftermath of the horrific accident, Sydney's mother called 911 while Frick administered CPR to the unresponsive girl. Emergency medical personnel arrived at the Sandy Ridge Road location and a sheriff's deputy assisted with life-saving measures. Sydney was then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she was placed on life support.
Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Sydney's injuries were too severe. She was taken off life support and pronounced dead on Monday, May 28, 2018. The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office investigated the incident, working with the county coroner and the King County Medical Examiner. The preliminary investigation indicated that the shooting was a tragic accident. There have been no reports of any arrests being made in connection with the incident, and the event was not described as involving a criminal suspect. The case was treated as an accidental shooting by the authorities.
