MT. CLEMENS, Mich. — A Macomb Township man has been arraigned on a felony charge under Michigan’s Safe Storage of Firearms law following the death of a minor who was shot inside a home last month.
Peter J. Lucido announced that James Beattie, 54, was formally charged after investigators determined a firearm he owned was left unsecured in a residence where a minor was present.
According to authorities, Macomb County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a Macomb Township home on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, after a report of a gunshot injury involving a minor. The child was transported to the hospital but later died from the injuries. Prosecutors allege the firearm was not secured, despite Beattie’s knowledge that a minor was on the premises.
Beattie was arraigned on Dec. 16, 2025, before Christopher Alayan at the 41A District Court on one count of Firearms – Safe Storage Violation, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The court set a $50,000 personal recognizance bond and ordered Beattie to surrender any firearms or ammunition in his possession to law enforcement. He is scheduled to appear for a Probable Cause Conference on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., before Stephen S. Sierawski.
“This is a profoundly sobering situation,” Lucido said in a statement. “My prayers are with the child and his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
Lucido emphasized that Michigan’s Safe Storage of Firearms law is intended to prevent tragedies involving children, including accidental shootings and youth suicides. The law requires firearms to be secured in a locked safe or rendered inoperable with a gun lock when minors may be present.
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office has promoted its public safety initiative, “Safe Gun Storage Saves Lives,” across the county since September 2025.
As with all criminal cases, Beattie is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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