DETROIT (WWJ) == A Detroit mother who is grieving the loss of her young daughter in a shooting is now facing criminal charges under Michigan's new Safe Storage Law.
The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced it has charged 41-year-old Tonya Charisse-Annice Johnson with one count Firearms – Safe Storage Violations – Premises Under Individual’s Control – Minor Present and Inflicted Death Upon Self or Another, three counts of Second-Degree Child Abuse, and four counts of Felony Firearm.
According to prosecutors, Johnson left her five children alone inside a car in a parking lot at Gratiot Ave. and Harper on Monday while she went inside a restaurant. (Initially, police said she was grocery shopping).
While the she was gone, investigators said the woman's 11-year-old son found an unsecured handgun under the driver's seat and fired it, hitting his 6-year-old sister in the head.
One of the kids then ran inside the restaurant to get the mom, who called 911.
The little girl was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Johnson was arraigned in 36th District court Thursday afternoon.
“The alleged facts of this case are among the worst child safe storage cases that we have seen. This will affect these children forever. The loss of the life of one of their siblings in a closed compartment of the defendant’s car cannot be unseen,” said Prosecutor Kym Worthy, in a statement.
In court, prosecutors argue that Johnson is a threat to hear children after four of five more firearms were found in her home unsecured.
Prosecutors also said "a used toilet" found by officers inside Johnson's vehicle, "shows that it's more than just the risk of harm due to gun safety, but the risk of harm in neglect and the care and concern of her children, too."
With this in mind, the judge ordered that Johnson have no contact with her children or possesses any weapons, as a condition of her $30,000 cash/surety bond.
Detroit Police First Assistant Chief Charles Fitzgerald said this was third child shot with an unsecured weapon in the city, within the past week-and-a-half.
As always, police urge all gun owners to keep their weapons locked up and out of reach of children.
Free gun locks are available to residents at Detroit Police precincts, MDHHS county offices, and many local health departments and police departments statewide.