EVERETT, Wash. — A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a Marysville police officer charged with manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of his 7-year-old daughter in March.
Derek Carlile's daughter Jenna was killed after he left a gun unsecured in the family's van while Carlile and his wife were out of the vehicle. His 3-year-old son got ahold of the weapon that went off, shooting Jenna in the stomach. She later died at a hospital.
The jury told the judge that after several votes, it was deadlocked. The judge questioned jurors, and declared a mistrial Tuesday afternoon.
Carlile's attorney said the officer meant to put the off-duty weapon on his ankle, but simply got distracted and never meant to leave his children in danger.
Prosecutors said the little boy, who was used to playing with toy guns, saw Carlile's loaded .38-caliber service revolver, that the gun could have been put in a lockable storage box and that its safety lock was not engaged.