Parents of 5-year-old who fatally shot self in the face with unsecured gun at Detroit home slammed with multiple felony charges

DETROIT (WWJ) - The parents of a 5-year-old boy who was killed while playing with an unsecured gun in his Detroit home over the weekend now face multiple felony charges each in connection with his death.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced that Halisa Lloydnette-Christine Brown, 25, and Sturlin Markese Minion, 33, both of Detroit, were formally arraigned on Tuesday, Dec. 12, three days after the fatal incident.

On Dec. 9, just before 1:25 p.m., Detroit police officers responded to an apartment complex in the 16500 block of Greenfield Road on reports of a shooting. When officers got to the home, they found a 5-year-old with a gunshot wound to the face.

The child was rushed to a local hospital, but died of his injures.

"Absolutely ridiculous, irresponsible, stupid and unnecessary and I'm sick and tired of it," Detroit Police Chief James White said to media on Saturday. "We've got a baby now that is dead weeks before Christmas who should be getting excited about getting Christmas toys."

According to White, five children -- one 8-year-old, two 7-year-olds, one 5-year-old and one 4-year-old -- were left unattended inside the home when the 5-year-old found a gun on a dresser.

The young child started to play with the gun, White said, and was jumping on a bed when the he turned the gun on himself and shot himself in the face.

White said there was no logical reason for the children be on their own, stating one parent was working on a car while the other was visiting with friends.

"The babies got to have a chance," he said, explaining that children should get the opportunity to grow up. "A chance to be a reporter, to be a police chief, to be an assistant chief... when parents make these types of decisions, they don't have a chance."

White expressed anger and frustration, stating that police were looking at a number of charges against the parents.

'We're going to be charging them with everything we can, to be honest with you," he said

On Tuesday, Brown was charged with one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, three counts of Second-Degree Child Abuse, and four counts of Felony Firearm, while Minion was charged with one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, three counts of Second-Degree Child Abuse, four counts of Felony Firearm, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Minion and Brown both received a $250,000 personal bond. They were also ordered not to possess alcohol or guns, and are not allowed to have contact with children, including their children.

"I have said before and I will say this again and again: What is it going to take for gun owners to store their weapons safely when children are in their homes?" Worthy said in a prepared statement. "How many more children must die? It takes mere minutes to store a gun safely. Is a child's death not worth minutes of one's time?"

A Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for December 21 at 8:30 a.m., and the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for December 28 at 1:45 p.m.