Detroit, Michigan — A Michigan mother is facing multiple criminal charges after police say she left her children unattended in a vehicle with an unsecured firearm, leading to a tragic shooting that killed her 6-year-old daughter.
Authorities say the incident happened Monday afternoon in Detroit, where 41-year-old Tonya Charisse-Annice Johnson had stopped to pick up a DoorDash order at a restaurant. According to police, Johnson left five of her children, ages 2 to 11, inside the vehicle while she went inside the restaurant.
During that time, investigators say one of the children discovered a gun that had been left unsecured inside the car.
The situation quickly turned tragic.
Child reportedly found gun inside parked vehicle
According to the Detroit Police Department, Johnson’s 11-year-old son found the firearm inside the vehicle while the children were alone in the parking lot on the 9700 block of Harper Avenue.
Police say the boy discharged the weapon, and the bullet struck his 6-year-old sister in the head.
Officers responding to the scene found the young girl suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
Emergency responders arrived around 12:06 p.m., and the child was transported to a nearby hospital.
Despite efforts by medical staff, the girl later died from her injuries, authorities said. Her name had not been publicly released at the time details about the case were shared.
Police say children were left alone with unsecured firearm
Investigators say the tragedy occurred because the firearm had not been properly secured while the children were left unattended.
Police allege Johnson left the five children in the car while she entered the restaurant to collect a food order, allowing the situation to unfold without adult supervision.
Authorities say the unsecured handgun inside the vehicle allowed the child to gain access to the weapon.
Following the shooting, Detroit police launched an investigation that ultimately led to Johnson being charged in connection with the child’s death.
Mother now facing multiple criminal charges
Prosecutors announced that Johnson is facing several serious charges related to the case.
The charges include:
- Three counts of second-degree child abuse
- Failing to securely store a firearm resulting in death
- Four counts of felony firearm
Officials say the charges reflect the seriousness of leaving a firearm accessible to children and the devastating consequences that can follow.
Prosecutors say incident will cause lasting trauma
During Johnson’s court appearance Thursday, prosecutors spoke about the emotional impact the incident could have on the family, especially the child involved in the shooting.
“There is going to be life-long trauma that this young man is going to suffer as a result of shooting his sister,” said Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Aniela Bosca.
Prosecutors emphasized that the tragedy could have long-term psychological effects not only on the boy who fired the gun but also on the other children who were present in the vehicle.
Officials described the situation as preventable and negligent, pointing to the alleged failure to properly secure the firearm.
Defense says mother is devastated by what happened
Johnson appeared virtually in court on Thursday, where reports indicated that she became emotional during the hearing.
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Her defense attorney told the court that the mother is deeply affected by the incident.
“Nobody feels worse right now than the defendant,” the attorney said.
The case is expected to continue moving through the court system in the coming weeks.
Johnson is scheduled to return to court on March 13, when further proceedings related to the charges will take place.
The tragic incident has also renewed concerns about firearm safety and the importance of securely storing weapons around children, as authorities continue to warn about the risks of leaving guns accessible in homes or vehicles.
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