DETROIT — A Detroit mother is facing multiple felony charges after her 6-year-old daughter was killed in an accidental shooting involving an unsecured handgun inside a vehicle on the city’s east side.
The shooting happened around 12:06 p.m. Monday in the 9700 block of Harper Avenue, near the intersection of Gratiot and Harper, according to prosecutors.
Authorities say Tonya Charisse-Annice Johnson, 41, left her five children — ages 2 to 11 — inside a vehicle while she went into a restaurant at a nearby shopping plaza.
Investigators say an 11-year-old boy found an unsecured handgun inside the vehicle and fired it, striking his 6-year-old sister in the head.
Emergency crews rushed the child to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead from her injuries.
Charges Filed
Wayne County prosecutors announced Thursday that Johnson has been charged with:
- Safe storage violation – premises under individual’s control (minor present, death resulting)
- Three counts of second-degree child abuse
- Four counts of felony firearm
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy called the case one of the most disturbing examples of unsafe gun storage her office has encountered.
“The alleged facts of this case are among the worst child safe storage cases that we have seen.”
Michigan Safe Storage Law
Michigan’s safe storage law, enacted in 2024, requires gun owners to keep firearms unloaded and locked with a locking device or secured in a locked container when minors may be present.
If a minor accesses the weapon and causes injury or death, the gun owner can face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $7,500.
Prosecutors say the case highlights the devastating consequences that can occur when firearms are not properly secured around children.
Johnson is expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon in Detroit’s 36th District Court.
Discuss this on our facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BEFbmvxcE/