A 6-year-old Detroit girl has died after being shot in the head by an unsecured gun while she and four other children were left alone inside a car Monday afternoon, police said.

The heartbreaking incident unfolded on March 2 in the parking lot of a shopping plaza near Gratiot Avenue and Harper Avenue on Detroit’s east side, according to the Detroit Police Department.

Authorities say the young girl was sitting in a vehicle with four other children — all under the age of 12 — while her mother briefly went inside a nearby location to pick up food.

Shortly after the mother stepped away from the vehicle, tragedy struck.

First Assistant Chief Charles Fitzgerald told reporters that one of the children ran to alert the mother that something had gone terribly wrong.

“At some point in time, shortly thereafter, one of the kids from the car ran to try to grab her, but it was unfortunately a little too late,” Fitzgerald said.

Inside the vehicle, the 6-year-old girl had been shot in the head with what police described as an unsecured firearm.

Emergency responders rushed the child to a nearby hospital along with family members, but doctors were unable to save her life.

Investigators are still working to determine exactly how the gun was accessed and who fired the weapon.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the young victim accidentally shot herself or whether another child in the vehicle pulled the trigger. Police also have not yet determined where the firearm had been stored inside the car before the shooting occurred.

Officials have not released the name of the child or her mother as the investigation continues.

It also remains unclear whether the five children in the vehicle were siblings or relatives, though police confirmed that none of the children were older than 12.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, Fitzgerald said the child’s mother was devastated by what had happened.

“As you can imagine, mom is a mess,” he said.

Investigators are now working to determine how the firearm ended up inside the vehicle and whether any charges could be filed. Fitzgerald said police will present their findings to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office once the investigation is complete.

While many questions remain unanswered, police say the tragedy highlights a growing and deeply troubling trend.

According to Fitzgerald, the fatal shooting is the third accidental shooting involving a child that Detroit police have responded to within the past week and a half.

The alarming pattern has left investigators pleading with gun owners to properly secure firearms, especially in homes or vehicles where children are present.

“This is preventable,” Fitzgerald said.

Visibly emotional while speaking about the young victim, the veteran officer reflected on the life that was suddenly cut short.

“We have a 6-year-old girl who will no longer go to school,” he said. “She can’t grow up to be a Detroit police officer or work for any of the media outlets.”

He paused before adding: “It’s really, really sad — but preventable.”