PANAMA CITY — The case of a local man who allegedly shot and killed his 6-year-old daughter by accident is now being investigated by prosecutors to determine whether charges will follow the incident, officials reported Monday.
Charges have not been brought against Evan Hernandez, 29, in connection with the May 3 shooting death of 6-year-old Izabella Votta, his daughter. However, the State Attorney’s Office (SAO) announced Monday a prosecutor will be reviewing the Panama City Police Department’s investigation into the incident to determine appropriate charges, according to a news release from the SAO.
Details of the incident remain unclear. The SAO said the case file will be made public when a decision on charges is made.
PCPD reported the agency received a 911 call May 3 at about 10:30 a.m. reporting a child had been shot at the Andrews Place Apartments, 1914 Frankford Ave. Upon arrival, PCPD officers found the girl had been struck in the head by a bullet her father fired from a handgun, according to police.
The child was taken to Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart, where she later died, police said. PCPD reported “it appears the shooting was accidental,” according to a press release. PCPD initially reported no other details of the incident.
Court documents, filed on the part of Hernandez, reported he was “practicing form” when the gun discharged. The bullet went through the mirror and into another room before fatally injuring the 6-year-old, court documents indicated.