Police officials said that the boys’ parents, Deonta and Shatia, were arrested and charged with child neglect and drug charges.
According to the statement, their 5-year-old son, who was not identified due to his age, reportedly took a gun and shot his 16-months-old baby brother. The baby died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Police officials later released a statement, stating that the 5-year-old boy who fatally shot his younger brother was high on cocaine, while the dead toddler had marijuana in his system, according to prosecutors. The baby, Isaiah, died from a gunshot wound to the head after his unnamed brother found a handgun at the family home.
Deonta claimed to have been napping on the couch at the time, saying he ‘heard a boom’ before he found the 16-month-old boy dead, according to a probable cause affidavit. The dead toddler was later found to have had marijuana in his system, while his brother tested positive for cocaine, prosecutors said while announcing the charges. Police also found 93 fentanyl pills as well as marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the couple’s apartment following the deadly shooting.
Four weeks before the deadly shooting, Shatia was brought up on charges of possessing and dealing narcotics and marijuana, which is illegal for both medical and recreational purposes in Indiana, according to court records.
The parents were also charged with conspiracy to commit dealing a narcotic drug, dealing a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic, conspiracy to commit dealing marijuana, dealing marijuana, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Isaiah’s parents are facing between 20 to 40 years in prison, and a fine of $10,000 in relation to the felony neglect charges.
