Grandma Arrested After Boy Accidentally Kills Himself With Accessible Gun

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A Tennessee grandmother has been arrested after her eight-year-old grandson accidentally fatally shot himself with an easily accessible loaded gun, authorities said.

48-year-old Gracie Patton Mimms was charged with criminal homicide and aggravated child neglect in connection to the death of 8-year-old Phillip'e Woodard last month, PEOPLE reports.

The accidental shooting unfolded on September 14 while Mimms' was taking care of the boy inside a home in Nashville. According to police, Mimms left Woodard unsupervised while she left home to "go spend time with friends."

Police said Woodard was left in a room where a loaded gun was "out and easily accessible." The eight-year-old child was playing with the gun when it went off.

Authorities said Woodard was home with his 10-year-old brother and a 16-year-old family friend when he fatally shot himself.

Mimms reportedly admitted to authorities that she was aware that the gun was in the room where she left the children, but she believed it was unloaded.

She is currently being held in custody on a $150,000 bond.

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