Young Mother Fatally Shot By 3-Year-Old In Dolton Identified

DOLTON, IL —The young mother killed when her 3-year-old son got hold of a gun and accidentally shot her has been identified as 22-year-old Dejah Bennet. Her child's father, who admitted to owning the gun, was in custody as authorities determine if he will be charged with a crime, police said Sunday.

Bennet was shot in the neck Saturday as the family sat in their car outside a Food 4 Less store in the 1000 block of Sibley Boulevard. She was pronounced dead just after 9:30 p.m., according to the medical examiner.

On Sunday, Dolton trustee Andrew Holmes stood outside the store handing out gun locks to customers, ABC 7 reported.

"This could have been prevented," he told the outlet.