A child fatality review panel will be conducted concerning the Nov. 2 shooting incident which resulted in the death of 3-year-old Allison M. Schneider, according to Sheriff Randy Esphorst.

The review is designed to compile a “statistical gathering of information for the state of Missouri,” said Esphorst. A review is mandated by state statutes on  any death of a child under age 16, he said. Panel members typically include law enforcement members, emergency services personnel, the coroner, the prosecutor, and medical professionals.

He also said the review is designed to “go over our facts and circumstances of the death to see how it could be prevented.”

Esphorst said his department discovered additional evidence at the scene of the girl’s fatal wounding which indicated an additional round may have struck the barn near where she and two other children were walking the morning she was shot in the left temple. Esphorst said they saw signs that an impression was made on the tin of the barn by what looked like a “flat, sideways impact” of a projectile.

Attempts to located the suspected bullet were unsuccessful due to the amount of metal objects in, and around, the ground in the area beside the barn. He said the “flat, sideways impact means it was tumbling” as if that round had deflected off a tree limb. “It looked fresh,” said Esphorst of the impression which was consistent with a 9 mm projectile hitting tin on its side.

The sheriff said late Tuesday he hopes to meet some time today (Wednesday) or later this week to review the case file with Prosecuting Attorney Ada Brehe-Krueger. He said she was preparing for two jury trials earlier this week. He said his department’s report was turned in to her. “She was going to read it over last week and when she’s freed up we’ll sit down and go over it together,” said Esphorst.

— By Dave Marner