COLUMBIA, S.C. — The death of a 3-year-old child who died after initially being reported missing last week was a tragic accident, according to Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
Lott said the 3-year-old, who was identified by the Richland County coroner as Armani Shoemaker, was at home on Parliament Lake Drive with another adult last Friday while her parents took another child to a doctor's appointment.
At some point, video shows Armani opening the door and going outside, where she eventually crawled into an unlocked, inoperable car parked in the yard.
"She opened the door, and she went into the vehicle and closed the door, and the heat that she experienced is what caused her death," Lott said.
When the parents came home and could not find Armani in the house, they called 911 frantically, Lott said. When deputies arrived, they found Arman in the vehicle.
Deputies immediately started CPR, put her in the car and rushed her to the hospital while they continued to work on her. "The whole time, they were working on her in the back of the car," Lott said.
"Unfortunately, it was too late," Lott said.
No charges will be filed. "This was a tragic accident," Lott said. "These parents loved this little girl."
Lott described Armani as a bright, smiling energetic 3-year-old, who loved playing with bubbles. "She was just a perfect little 3-year-old child," he said.
Armani's family wants to prevent other families from losing a child in the same way. "The family doesn't want her death to go in vain," Lott said.
"I say all the time lock your doors, and the parents wanted me to emphasize today to keep your vehicles locked, even those who are not running," Lott said. "It's real simple, if you're not in it, just push that little button, lock the door. That may have saved Armani's life."
"It can happen and it can happen fast," Lott said. "Anyone who's ever had a 3-year-old knows how quick they can run, how fast they are, what they can do, and things you may not think they can do, they can do."
It was just a tragic accident that happened last Friday," Lott said. "Let's just hug your kids, take care of them, lock your doors.
"Lock your doors," Lott said. "It could save someone's life."