MANDEVILLE, Manchester — In the wake of last month’s fatal shooting of four-year-old Gia Griniell at her family home in Ingleside, police in the parish have urged licensed firearm holders to secure their weapons at all times.

Acting territorial officer for Manchester Inspector Berthlyn Lloyd issued the call during the monthly meeting of the Manchester Municipal Corporation on Thursday.

“We encourage licensed firearm holders to ensure that you have a proper safe to secure your firearms and you don’t leave them carelessly in your household. For those persons who have firearms and are travelling abroad, we encourage you to leave the firearm at the Mandeville Police Station where there is an armoury or at the Firearm Licensing Authority,” said Lloyd.

Gia’s mother, Yanique Brown, 38, was charged a week after the shooting incident with child negligence and breach of duty to securely store a firearm and ammunition.

It was reported that Gia died from a gunshot wound to the back of her head, sustained during a shooting incident at Ingleside Boulevard on May 20.

A police report said about 10:00 pm Gia, her 12-year-old sibling, and their mother were at home when the shooting happened.

According to the police report, the mother told detectives that she put both children to bed and went to use the restroom when she heard a loud explosion. The mother’s licensed firearm was reportedly left in her handbag.

On Thursday chairman of the Manchester Municipal Corporation, Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell, led the meeting in observing a minute of silence in memory of Gia whose father is a member of staff at the corporation.

The corporation also observed a minute of silence in memory of Navinor Knight, a patient care assistant at the Manchester Infirmary.

Knight’s body was found face down at an apartment in Hillside, Knockpatrick on Saturday night. Police are awaiting an autopsy to determine the cause of her death.

In the meantime Lloyd told the meeting that despite a 41 per cent decrease in major crimes in Manchester, residents should remain vigilant and implement target hardening measures to combat break-ins and robberies.

“While we are seeing this decrease in major crimes. We are still not comfortable, because break-in is still too high, robbery is still too high, so we are concerned and we are asking all persons…to ensure their safety and take the necessary precautions to keep their properties safe,” said Lloyd.

She recommended the installation of security cameras, alarms and tracking devices for vehicles.

“All hands have to be on deck. The police cannot be everywhere, so everybody has to take their personal responsibility to ensure that their properties are safe [and] their neighbours are safe,” added Lloyd.