Video shows moments before girl accidentally shoots instructor

Video released by the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona shows a 9-year-old girl firing an Uzi submachine gun next to her instructor before she lost control of it. The remainder of the video, when she lost control of the weapon, was not released. The fatal moment is not shown in the above video report.

According to the New York Times, the video of the shooting, which her parents recorded on a cellphone was turned over to the sheriff’s department, which released it publicly.

Charles Vacca, aged 39, died on Monday shortly after being airlifted to University Medical Centre in Las Vegas, Mohave County sheriff's officials said.

The incident has sparked huge debate on social media raising the issue of age limits at such operations. Many have expressed sympathy for the girl, but questioned why she was handling such a weapon.

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