Mom Charged After 2-Year-Old Son Takes Gun from Her Purse and Fatally Shoots Himself in Front of Sister

Nationwide — Keiara Bickett, a 28-year-old African American mom from Indianapolis, Indiana, has been charged with neglect after her 2-year-old son fatally shot himself along with her gun whereas sitting in a automotive beside his 9-year-old sister. She has additionally misplaced custody of her daughter for now.

The incident occurred on June 19 round 3 p.m. in a CVS car parking zone close to East forty sixth Road and Keystone Avenue. Bickett referred to as 911, telling dispatchers that her son, Javarius, had shot himself within the head. He was taken to Riley Hospital however didn’t survive.

Javarius’s sister, then 8 years previous, was within the entrance seat when the capturing occurred. A decide has since issued a no-contact order between Keiara and her daughter, who will keep along with her grandmother till no less than the subsequent courtroom listening to on September 22.

The incident occurred on June 19 round 3 p.m. in a CVS car parking zone close to East forty sixth Road and Keystone Avenue. Bickett referred to as 911, telling dispatchers that her son, Javarius, had shot himself within the head. He was taken to Riley Hospital however didn’t survive..

Her daughter later advised police that Javarius climbed onto her lap whereas their mom drove. She stated she was taking part in a recreation on her telephone when she heard a “loud noise” and noticed her brother fall.

Investigators later recovered a Glock 26 Gen 5 handgun from the motive force’s aspect floorboard with a fired cartridge within the chamber and a bullet lodged within the passenger seat space.

Bickett’s mom, Melissa Etheridge, continues to grieve the lack of her grandson and defends her daughter. “It was an absolute accident,” she advised WTHR. “She might have had negligence for not having the gun in a protected place, however she would by no means hurt any of her youngsters. She loves her youngsters to dying. It’s tearing me up. It’s tearing her daughter up.”

Bickett is going through a Stage 1 felony cost of neglect of a dependent leading to dying, which carries a 20-to-40-year sentence if convicted. She plans to rent an lawyer earlier than her subsequent listening to and should additionally discover a new place to stay since she lives along with her mom.

“I do know she ought to have punishment for what occurred, however that’s simply an excessive amount of,” Etheridge stated. “All people’s portray an image of her that she’s an evil individual. She is a superb mom. She takes care of her youngsters. She doesn’t do something that will ever hurt her youngsters. She takes excellent care of them. They’ve all the things they need, all the things they want.”