Mom Charged After 4 Year Old Shoots His Brother

[2pacnbiggie]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-todd01.html

Mom charged after her 4-year-old shoots brother

April 1, 2005

BY PAM EASTON




HOUSTON -- The mother of a 4-year-old boy who shot his 2-year-old brother in the head with a handgun has been charged with a weapons count, police said Thursday.

Tameka Michelle Jones, 29, is scheduled to appear before a judge today to answer a misdemeanor charge of making a gun available to a minor.

The 2-year-old was shot after an argument with his brother over a toy on March 12, and he remains in critical condition.

He has shown signs of improvement this week, said Child Protective Services spokeswoman Gwen Carter. The 4-year-old is being cared for by his grandparents and receiving counseling.

Was pistol for protection?



The 4-year-old apparently got his mother's gun -- a .25 caliber pistol -- from her purse after the younger brother threw a toy at him and bit him.

Carter said the mother got the gun because of some burglaries in the neighborhood. She told investigators it was always out of the reach of children except the day of the shooting.

The 4-year-old will not face charges.

Prosecutor David Harbach said the case is very unusual given the ages of the children involved.

''The crime with which she has been charged is a crime of negligence,'' Harbach said of the mother.

AP

 

[mechman]

that is one gangsta kid

 

[C.R.Y.]

damn, capping people at such a young age

 

[S. Fourteen]

The 4-year-old apparently got his mother's gun -- a .25 caliber pistol -- from her purse

She told investigators it was always out of the reach of children except the day of the shooting.

Well I'm glad. The fact that the kid knew where to find the gun makes me say 'hmmmm'.

 

[not really ken]

this is a step in the right direction. Parents need to take full responsibility for their children these days. Nature / Nurture? who knows? But there is enough evidence leaning to the nurturists debate to point out that parents need to instill discipline and lofty principles, simply because, they can

 

[imported_MAKaveli_10]

Stupid Parent!

 

[Pacaveli-T]

damn already at 4 they starting young at texas then again no shock 2 yrs old that fucked up poor kid man, i hope he pulls through...you know if he lives there's no brotherly love happening here.

 

[one mc on dj]

Yeah she should pay for what happened..but there is no doubt in my mind she is already being punished with the possibily of losing a child.

 

[Butt Rubber]

i hope the kid gets the death sentence

nothing like a good old trip to the chair as a time-out punishment

 

[Amara]

this is a step in the right direction. Parents need to take full responsibility for their children these days. Nature / Nurture? who knows? But there is enough evidence leaning to the nurturists debate to point out that parents need to instill discipline and lofty principles, simply because, they can

We had that debate in criminology (nature vs nurture). There's hardly any empirical evidence in support of nature. In this case, I would say discipline, although vital for a child's behavioural upbringing, is only subsidiary to that of the availability and ease of access to the gun. Afterall, the kid is 4 - there is only so much discipline and self restraint a child can show.... ultimately a responsible parent would prevent that kind of situation arising in the first place.

Yeah she should pay for what happened..but there is no doubt in my mind she is already being punished with the possibily of losing a child.

I'd say the guilt arising out of the knowledge that her own carelessness which was the cause of her child's potential death is what would be most punnishing. It's sad, but people have to take responsibility.... our duty of care towards children, is a standard that can never be too high.

 

[KAMIKAZI]

man, thats just insane... who cares, I shoot 2 year olds all the time, u dont c me complaining

 

[not really ken]

There's hardly any empirical evidence in support of nature.

and there most likely never will be!

 

[ecko]

thats jus crazy man

 

[Jokerman]

Why did her 4 year old even know where her gun was?

 

[makavella]

man, ever year the killings and killers become younger and younger, but i never knew it would go that far!