FAIRFIELD (BCN) -- The parents of the 2-year-old Vacaville girl who was killed  accidentally by her brother as he played with a gun at the family's home in  September have pleaded not guilty to child abuse and weapons charges.

Michael Shanahan, 28, and Daniela Shanahan, 27, entered the pleas  Monday in Solano County Superior Court.

The Shanahans are charged with one count of first-degree criminal  storage of a firearm and two counts of felony child abuse or endangering the  health of a child, Deputy District Attorney Jeff Kauffman said.

The child abuse or endangerment charges apply to both their  daughter Ayana and her 8-year-old brother. The charges also include a special  allegation of causing injury resulting in death.

Daniela Shanahan also is charged with being a felon in possession  of a handgun and being a felon in possession of ammunition. Vacaville police  said she has a felony conviction in Napa County for driving under the  influence.

The Shanahans posted bail and are out of custody.

Their daughter, Ayana, was shot at about 2:10 p.m. on Sept. 23  while her 8-year-old brother was playing unsupervised with a 9mm handgun in  the parents' bedroom at the family's home on Syracuse Circle in Vacaville.

She was taken to VacaValley Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The gun belonged to Michael Shanahan, a member of the Army  Reserve, police said.

Daniela Shanahan's attorney, Monte Hansen, said this morning that  he and Anthony Finkas, the attorney for Michael Shanahan, are hopeful the  case will be settled before a trial.

"We will try to resolve this case with the district attorney's  office," Hansen said. "This is a horrible tragedy. Our goal is to work on  rehabilitation for the entire family and get them counseling and help."

"This is not one of those clear-cut cases where a loaded gun was  left out on a table," he said. "They took reasonable steps to protect their  children. There was a gun safe with other weapons."

(Copyright 2009, Bay City News, all rights reserved.)