A juvenile has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the May shooting death of a 7-year-old girl in rural Jefferson County.
The Jefferson County Attorney’s Office says Jean Grey Irvin was found with a gunshot wound to the head at a home south of Libertyville on May 24. She was taken to Jefferson County Health Center and later flown to University of Iowa Health Care, where she died.
Initial information suggested the shooting was accidental. However, investigators with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation conducted additional interviews and reviewed evidence gathered at the scene.
The investigation established probable cause to believe Jean’s death was neither accidental nor self-inflicted and appeared to be intentional.
A complaint was filed Thursday charging a juvenile female, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, with second-degree murder. She has been taken into custody, and the case was filed in juvenile court because she is a minor.
The Jefferson County Attorney’s Office is reviewing whether to seek a waiver allowing the juvenile to be prosecuted as an adult in district court. A decision is expected soon.
The charge is an accusation, and the juvenile is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Authorities are asking the public to respect the privacy of Jean’s family as the case proceeds.