Parents charged for unintentional shootings that killed their children

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Two parents are charged with felonies for neglecting proper gun safety, which led to the deaths of their young children, who were both 2-years-old.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced Wednesday that Kieara Bickett, 28, and Leon’ta Anderson, 23, have both been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a level 1 felony. Anderson currently has a warrant out for his arrest.

Bickett is charged for the June 19 death of her 2-year-old son Javarius. News 8 first reported that the toddler was found inside a car at a parking lot at East 46th Street and North Keystone Avenue. Javarius was originally taken to the hospital in critical condition, but later died from his wounds.

Court documents say the Bickett kept a handgun in her purse when she and her two children ran errands. Bickett told police that she normally kept her purse zipped and on the driver’s-side floor of the vehicle. Javarius, who was not locked into his car seat with a seatbelt, climbed onto the center console and got access to the purse which was between the driver’s seat and the center console. Police say he got access to the gun and accidentally shot himself.

Anderson’s 2-year-old child, Harmony Anderson, was accidentally shot on the near-north side of Indianapolis July 11. The shooting happened in the 2000 block of Ralston Avenue.

At the scene of the shooting, multiple firearms were found in the home, none were secured, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers said at the time. Court documents say a rifle, which did not have its safety enabled, a handgun with two loaded drum magazines, and a pink handgun were all found in easily accessible areas.

After the shooting, Anderson told police that he keeps the safety on and doesn’t leave a bullet chambered in the gun “9 times out of 10.” He later admitted that he owned unsecure guns.

“Two children are gone, two families are shattered, and it never should have happened,” Mears said in a press release. “Until our state requires basic licensing and training for gun owners, families will remain at risk. Safe storage and responsible gun owner are not optional— it’s a matter of life and death.”

About The Author

See author's posts