Sheriff: Father said he was trying to make gun safe when he shot toddler daughters

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A South Carolina sheriff says a father told deputies he was trying to make sure a gun was safe when he accidentally fired the weapon, killing his 2-year-old daughter and wounding her 4-year-old sister.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said in a news release Friday that the man also shot himself in the hand during the incident at a Columbia townhome around 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The weapon that fired was a handgun, sheriff’s officials told CBS affiliate WLTX.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts says Heaven Miller died from a gunshot to her upper body. The other child suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials told the station.

Lott says the shooting appears to be an accident, but his deputies are continuing to investigate.