An Arizona family is mourning the sudden and unexpected loss of a young girl. Layla Ramos was accidentally shot by her older brother and later died from her injuries. During the police investigation, it was discovered the gun was owned by her father. The father had evidently been storing the gun in a place that made access incredibly easy. Police are still investigating the details of how the accident unfolded. Now, the family is planning to bury the girl as they reflect on their tragic loss.
Phoenix police said they received reports of a stabbing on June 3, 2025, Fox 10 Phoenix reported. Authorities tracked the call to a behavioral hospital, but they later learned that 5-year-old Layla Ramos had actually been shot in her home. She was taken to a trauma center, where she died of her injuries.
Detectives who took on the case learned Layla had been shot by her 9-year-old brother inside their home. “During the investigation, detectives learned the rifle used in the shooting belonged to 33-year-old Irvin Ramos-Jimenez, the children’s father, who was later arrested and booked into MCSO jail for possession of a weapon by a prohibited person,” Phoenix Police Department Sgt. Brian Bower said, according to Fox 10.
“This isn’t a simple case of a convicted felon in possession of a firearm,” the state shared during a hearing, per Fox 10. “The defendant is a prohibited possessor, but he brought a gun into a home with kids. Not just any gun, it was an assault rifle.”
After his first appearance in court, Ramos-Jimenez was released on his own recognizance. The judge ordered him not to have contact with any witnesses. According to the Arizona Republic, two 14-year-olds were in the room when Layla Ramos was shot by her brother.
Now, the rest of the girl’s family is left to grieve. Layla’s mother, Dolores Ramirez, released a statement to ABC 15 about her daughter.
“My sweet daughter Layla was only five years old, but she filled our world with a love and light far beyond her years,” she shared in the statement. “She had the gentlest soul—kind, soft-hearted, and always so loving. Layla was the kind of child who made everyone feel special with just a smile or a quiet hug.”
Ramirez added in the statement that Layla was “so excited for school to start soon; she would talk about it with such joy and anticipation.” She said her daughter “loved deeply and purely,” noting her love “will stay with us forever.”
“Though her time with us was far too short, Layla’s beautiful spirit will always live on in our hearts,” she said.
Jose Ramos, Layla’s uncle, set up a GoFundMe account to help cover funeral costs. He described the girl as “our little princess,” saying she “got her wings way too soon.”
Ramos went on to call her “so loving, smart, and a truly beautiful soul.” He explained that the family plans to bury her at a site that is specifically for babies and children who have died. The investigation is ongoing.
