Miramar mother shot, killed by toddler ruled accidental

MIRAMAR, Fla. – The shooting of a 33-year-old mother inside her Miramar home in 2011 has been ruled accidental.

Broward County prosecutors say Julia Bennett's 2-year-old son, Troy Bailey, accidentally shot her after he found his father's 9 mm semiautomatic hidden beneath couch pillows.

Authorities say the father and Bennett's boyfriend, Hewart Bailey tried to prevent the shooting by grabbing the child, but that's when the gun went off, striking Bennett in the left side of her back.

Shortly after the shooting in 2011, neighbors told Local 10 they didn't see how a toddler could be capable of shooting a gun.

Gun experts say it only takes 5 1/2 pounds of pressure to pull the trigger on a 9 mm semiautomatic and say a toddler is absolutely capable of doing so.