On Valentine’s Day, a 3-year-old girl in Flint, Michigan, was rushed to the hospital, with blood pouring from her head.
That evening, Skye McBride had found a loaded revolver in her father’s bedroom and accidentally shot herself, police found. The bullet passed through her right eye and severed an artery in her brain, causing a massive stroke.
Her father, Michael Tolbert, became the first person charged under Michigan’s safe storage law, which made it a felony if a gun owner leaves a weapon unsecured and a child uses it to injure or kill someone. Tolbert pleaded not guilty and is currently awaiting trial.
Since the February 2024 shooting, photographer Cydni Elledge visited Skye and her family to capture her recovery — described by her doctors, nurses and therapists as “a miracle” — along with ordinary moments like birthday parties and Christmas preparations.
Nearly every day, a person is killed or injured in the U.S. because a child has accidentally fired a gun, according to reports compiled by Everytown, a group that advocates for firearm safety.
Children under 6 are among the most likely victims.
