Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 2-year-old girl at a hotel in Wickliffe, Ohio on Friday night.
The shooting happened around 11 p.m. at the Econo Lodge Wickliffe-Cleveland East, 28611 Euclid Ave. Police said it appears the child's mother was handling a gun when it went off and the 2-year-old girl was shot in the chest.
The mother initially told the 911 operator the gun's safety was off, but a few seconds later said the safety was on when she dropped the weapon.
"The safety was on when I dropped the gun and the bullet shot her. The gun dropped, I dropped my gun," the mother told the 911 operator. "She's gone. My baby's gone. She's not breathing at all. She's gone."
The child was taken to a nearby hospital but later died from the injury, according to authorities.
Police said the shooting appears to be accidental. The mother had the weapon legally and had a concealed carry permit.
It will be left up to the Lake County Crime Lab and the prosecutor's office to determine if any charges are filed, police said.
