FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — 19-year-old Andrew Sanchez was sentenced to less than five years in prison by a Fresno County judge, nearly one year after a tragic shooting.<\/p>\n
Sanchez left a loaded gun within reach of his girlfriend’s toddler back in December.<\/p>\n
Police say the weapon was unregistered and unsecured when Jessinya Mina’s two-year-old accidentally shot and killed her.<\/p>\n
RELATED: Woman accidentally shot and killed by her 2-year-old child in northeast Fresno, police say<\/a><\/p>\n Tears filled the courtroom as Mina’s loved ones spoke about the hole left in their hearts.<\/p>\n Mina’s best friend was in the apartment on that deadly day.<\/p>\n “I remember sitting in my room and I remember hearing her scream. And it plays in my head every day. I remember hiding in the closet because I thought we were all going to die,” said the friend.<\/p>\n Sanchez pleaded no contest to felony child endangerment and felony criminal storage of a firearm.<\/p>\n The defendant’s father, who was in the courtroom on Friday, said his son has accepted responsibility for the crimes. He also shared his own sorrow.<\/p>\n “My deepest apologies to you guys. To my family, my deepest apologies to them. I got broke from both sides,” said the suspect’s father.<\/p>\n Mina’s family said the time Sanchez will spend in prison is nothing compared to the lifelong loss they will continue to endure.<\/p>\n “She was amazingly beautiful. Not only on the outside but on the inside as well. And she was hilarious. She could bring a smile to your face, even when you had tears in your eyes. And her smile was so contagious, and she just lit up a room anytime she went in,” said the victim’s older sister, Jessica Rodriguez.<\/p>\n Sanchez has been out on bail throughout most of the court process.<\/p>\n He only had two days of credit for time served and was taken into custody immediately after his sentencing.<\/p>\n For news updates, follow Vince Ybarra on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2025 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n