ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. News

Man charged as 'shotgun he kept under pillow went off and killed girl, 3, beside him

She was described as 'an angel' - by Kathryn Lewsey
  • 12 Feb 2020

A man has been charged with homicide after a shotgun that he kept under his pillow went off and struck three-year-old Chassity Clancy.

Marlin Pritchard, 51, was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child after the devastating death of the young girl, which happened on Sunday morning in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Man charged as 'shotgun he kept under pillow went off and killed girl, 3, beside him
Allegheny County Jail/ CBS

The man explained to police he was sleeping beside Chassity and another child when he ‘woke up to the sound of a bang’ and saw on the children run from the bed.

According to Oxygen, he then tried to ‘wake up’ Chassity but she failed to move. It’s reported she was shot in the neck and bleeding from the mouth.

The child was later pronounced dead.

When police arrived at the home, they found Pritchard in the bedroom near Chassity lying motionless on the bed.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported how Pritchard later confessed to detectives, saying, ‘What do you want from me, man? This is my fault.’

He claimed he kept the gun under a pillow because people were ‘after him’.

It’s reported those people included a couple who came to his house on Saturday to complain about contracting work he’d done for them. Pritchard also said he had an ongoing dispute with a person named ‘Vic.’

Christ Togneri, a public information officer for the City of Pittsburgh’s Public Safety Department, revealed that Pritchard wasn’t related to Chassity and that he and other adults in the home babysitting at the time of the shooting.

Pritchard said to police he had been sleeping on the left side of the bed with the kids on the right side, when the gun was fired.

After, he took the gun outside and placed it by tyres before returning to hold Chassity.

As well as homicide and child endangerment, Pritchard is also facing gun charges.

Chassity's cousin, George Logan III, described the girl as a 'princess' and told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 'She was funny, she always kept us laughing. Chassity was the family's baby.

'She was sassy, and I've never seen her mad or crying. She was really an angel to us. She loved everybody.'

  • News
  • Real Life
Kathryn Lewsey
Kathryn Lewsey
Kathryn is a Senior Features Writer for that's life! magazine. Her work has been published in The Sun, Daily Mail, Chat, Closer, Kidspot, Real People, Take a Break and MarieClaire.com.au

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Florida school shooting survivors will march on Washington to change gun control laws

Florida school shooting survivors will march on Washington to change gun control laws

Holly the heart hero

Holly the heart hero

30-year heartbreak  - who killed Kerry Turner?

30-year heartbreak - who killed Kerry Turner?

My runny nose was cancer

My runny nose was cancer

{headline}

{headline}

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

{headline}

{headline}

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

I became an ice addict at 40 - Now I'm helping others

There was no room for my boy's brain

There was no room for my boy's brain

Aussie Dad's mission - I had two months to save my girl's life

Aussie Dad's mission - I had two months to save my girl's life

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!