⏱ 2 min read
A 21-month-old toddler is dead after accidentally shooting himself with an unsecured gun in Columbus, Ohio. The incident occurred on July 11 when Columbus police officers responded to a report of a shooting on Quinby Drive. Deshawn Levelle Butler, 35, the toddler’s father, was with the child during the shooting and allegedly fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. Butler, a previously convicted felon, is now facing federal charges for illegally possessing the firearm that led to his son’s death.
According to charging documents, Butler turned himself in to Columbus police headquarters the morning after the shooting and allegedly told officers that his son had discovered his 9mm handgun in an open safe in a bedroom. As a convicted felon, Butler is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition, and he also had outstanding warrants for misdemeanor domestic violence charges.
Butler was indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty, and the investigation was conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Columbus Police Department.
The indictment is a result of a collaboration between law enforcement agencies, including the ATF and the Columbus Police Department, to hold accountable individuals who illegally possess firearms and put their communities at risk. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible gun ownership and the devastating consequences of neglecting to secure firearms.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Ohio
- Location: OH
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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