BY JEREMY SLAYTON and JOE MACENKA

Times-Dispatch Staff Writers

A 5-year-old girl died this afternoon at VCU Medical Center after being shot in the head late last night at a home in Richmond’s East End.

The girl has been identified as Dominique Carter, said Alicia Rasin, founder of Citizens Against Crime and spokesperson for Carter’s mother, Sharifia Warren.

Authorities said it appeared the shooting was accidental. The gun’s owner, Judy Wright, who was not with the three children in the house at the time of the shooting, has been charged with felony child neglect.

Wright, 41, is Dominique’s grandmother and was working as a certified nursing assistant at a Richmond-area nursing home at the time of the shooting, Rasin said.

The shooting was reported at 11:20 p.m. at a home in the 2400 block of M Street.

"The initial investigation indicated the child was shot by another child in the home," said David M. McCoy, Richmond’s interim police chief. "A 10-year-old boy found his mother’s gun and shot the girl, who is his niece. Another child was present at the time of the shooting."

Dominique was looking forward to attending school for the first time in the fall as a kindergarten student, Rasin said.

The 10-year-old and other child who was in the house have been placed in the custody of social services officials.

Authorities are continuing to investigate and further charges are possible, McCoy said.

Contact Jeremy slayton at jslayton@timesdispatch.com

Contact Joe Macenka at jmacenka@timesdispatch.com