October 12, 2018

Action Alert:
Call for Charges Against Grandfather Who Enabled Accidental Shooting


Update: On January 18, 2019, a grand jury in Henrico County indicted 58-year-old Victor Frank Covelli on child neglect/abuse of a child causing serious injury, a class 5 felony. Covelli was charged for leaving the gun used to kill his granddaughter accessible to her and her brother while they were unattended. Thanks to everyone who contacted Chief Cardounel in this case! Your pressure was instrumental in getting this case before a grand jury.


On October 8, 2018, a 7 year-old boy was playing at his grandfather’s house in Henrico County, Virginia with his 5 year-old sister and three other children under the age of 10.  The children should have been in school, but were not.

Site of the shooting in which a 5 year-old girl was killed by her 7 year-old brother.

While playing, the boy found a loaded, unlocked gun in one of his grandfather’s drawers. Tragedy ensued when the boy accidentially shot his younger sister, nicknamed “Skinny,” killing her. The grandfather had bought the gun for “protection” after his home was burglarized several times.

The Henrico County Police have yet to bring any charges against the grandfather for negligently storing the firearm and making it accessible to minors.

Please contact Henrico County Police Chief Humberto “Hum” Cardounel, Jr. through one of the channels below and give him the following message, personalized to your liking:

Please bring charges against the grandfather in the 200 block of S. Holly Avenue (Highland Springs area) who left a loaded, unlocked gun accessible to his 7 year-old grandson, an act of gross negligence that led to the accidental shooting death of the boy’s 5 year-old sister on October 8, 2018. At the time of the shooting, there were a total of five children under the age of 10 in the house, all of whom had access to the gun. This is totally unacceptable and I refuse to stand by and watch one child after another die because of the behavior of reckless gun owners. Charge this grandfather with criminal negligence and make it clear to gun owers in Henrico County that they are not immune from prosecution when they endanger minors in this manner. It’s time to prioritize saving the lives of children over fetishizing firearms.

Henrico County Police Chief Humberto “Hum” Cardounel, Jr.
Phone: (804) 501-5000 or (804) 501-4800
Email: police@henrico.us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HenricoCountyPolice/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HenricoPolice

Once you contacted Chief Cardounel, fill out the three fields below and click the orange button to report taking action!


This is an action alert, NOT an online petition. Please take the action before filling out the fields below.

41 people have taken this action