Seven-year-old girl killed by stray bullets in Utah tragedy
Heber City, Utah - Seven-year-old Zaydanielys Rodriguez Irizarry tragically passed away after getting hit by a stay bullet that went through the wall of a Heber City, Utah apartment.
Friday night, the girl's father, Danny Rodriguez, was working a night shift when he received a call from his son, who was home with Zaydanielys.
The boy was panicking as he told his dad that he just heard a loud noise and that his sister was bleeding from the mouth.
Rodriguez immediately raced home and stumbled on a horrific scene. The second he saw his daughter, he "thought she had fallen off the bed and cut herself," he told Fox13.
After Zaydanielys was rushed to the Heber Valley Hospital, medical staff found a gunshot wound.
"They took her in and were doing CPR. And then they said there was no more they could do, and she was gone," a heartbroken Rodriguez continued.
Police officers immediately responded to the family's home, where they heard a gunshot coming from another apartment.
According to KSL-TV and People, they were able to locate a bullet hole in the wall of the apartment next door to Zaydanielys.
Shortly afterwards, deputies took three intoxicated individuals into custody.
Three man have been arrested in connection with the homicide
On Sunday, 21-year-old Trever Joe Pinter, 36-year-old Colin David Howells, and 34-year-old Christopher Robert O'Connell were arrested.
O'Connell was booked on one count of manslaughter, as well as possession of drugs and a weapon by a restricted person. He has been identified as the suspected shooter.
Howells is facing two misdemeanor charges and intoxication.
Pinter is facing one count of obstruction of justice.
"She wasn't like any other 7-year-old. My little girl was polite, intelligent and well-behaved," Rodriguez told Fox13.
"I feel sad because if I knew what was going to happen, I would've tried more. I would've given her more time, more laughter, more smiles. I would've tried more in those last moments."
He has since created a GoFundMe page to help the family with funeral expenses. So far, over $50,000 have been raised.
Cover photo: GoFundMe/Screenshot/Zaydanielys- actos funebres y transporte a P. R.