DETROIT – A Detroit mother has been charged in connection with the death of her 8-year-old daughter, who was killed when her 10-year-old brother found a gun and fired it while the children were home alone, police said.
The shooting happened at 11:52 a.m. Tuesday (Sept. 13) in the 8840 block of Heyden Street.
Officials said a 10-year-old boy found an unsecured handgun while he and his 8-year-old sister were home alone. He fired the gun and struck his sister, according to authorities.
The girl was rushed to a nearby fire house, where medical officials picked her up and took her to the hospital. She was pronounced dead on arrival, officials said.
“How many children have to die because of an unsecured weapon?” Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy asked. “Why is it so hard to secure a gun when you know that children either live or visit your home frequently? Why are the deaths of these children acceptable, because surely if preventing these deaths was a priority, the political will to fix this would be at an all-time high?”
Erica Sade Graham, 31, of Detroit, was charged Thursday with involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree child abuse, and three felony firearm violations.
She was arraigned Thursday afternoon at 36th District Court and is being held on $150,000 personal bond. She must wear a GPS tether and be confined to her home, if released.
A probable cause conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 30, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Oct. 7.
Here’s what Detroit police Chief James White said about this incident on Tuesday: