NH Girl, 5, Found Sleeping With Gun In 'Deplorable' Apartment

MANCHESTER, NH — Police in Manchester said they rescued a 5-year-old girl found living in a "deplorable" apartment Wednesday night. The girl was found in a bedroom sleeping with a loaded gun on her chest and there were dog feces, trash and rotting food everywhere, police said. She was placed in the care of a foster family.

Officers encountered the girl after neighbors called 911, saying they heard gunshots coming from the Flaherty Lane apartment, according to Manchester police Lieutenant Brian O'Keefe. Officers spoke with Thomas Gulledge, 29, who lived in the apartment with the girl. Police said she is a relative of Gulledge's.

"Gulledge granted the officers permission to clear his apartment when asked about the possible gunshots," O'Keefe said in a statement. "Once inside, the officers noted deplorable living conditions, to include dog feces, trash, rotten food and multiple flies. They looked further into the apartment and located a five year-old girl sleeping on a bed. The child’s bedroom was also filled with feces, trash and rotten food when they noticed her sleeping with a handgun on her chest. The fully loaded .45 caliber handgun was resting on her chest inside of a holster. Her bed was also filled with trash and rotting food as she lay sleeping."

Gulledge was charged with reckless conduct and held pending an arraignment in Hillsborough County Superior Court Thursday.

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