Gun-Toting Mom Pleads Guilty in 2-Year-Old’s Fatal Shooting

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — In a tragic case of gun violence, Emma Huver, 26, of Lansing, Michigan, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges stem from the accidental discharge of a gun that resulted in the death of her two-year-old child on October 24, 2023.

Huver had previously been convicted of a felony drug offense in 2020, making her ineligible to possess a firearm. As part of her plea, Huver admitted to having a purple 9-millimeter Smith & Wesson semiautomatic pistol in her car on the day of the incident. Sentencing is scheduled for September 16, 2024.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the incident occurred at a Lansing gas station when Huver’s child was accidentally shot in the car. Surveillance video showed Avis Coward, 44, a co-defendant, getting out of the car and leaving the child and Huver inside. A bullet hole appeared in the car window, and Huver handed the child to Coward, who then passed the child to a third person. The child later died from their injuries.

Coward and Gina Schieberl, 27, are also charged with conspiracy to tamper with evidence and tampering with evidence. Coward is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The tampering charges concern attempts by Coward and Schieberl to hide or destroy evidence in the case, including a car that was later found burned-out and abandoned in a field in Lansing, and a .45 caliber Springfield Armory semiautomatic pistol.

Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee praised the partnership between local police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, saying, “This is yet another great example of how partnerships strive to bring justice and closure to those affected by senseless violence.”

The case highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. firearm homicide rate in 2021 was the highest documented since 1993. The U.S. Department of Justice provides resources and information on safe storage of firearms, which can be found on their website. Anyone who possesses a gun must follow all local, state, and federal laws.”