A Detroit father was charged with violating Michigan's gun storage law, accused of leaving his children alone when his oldest son was shot in the face by his younger brother with an unsecured gun.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office announced the charges against Muammar Markus Wallace, 38, in a Saturday, Oct. 10 news release.
Worthy hammered the importance of safely storing guns in a statement. "Please, please, please safely store your weapons at all times. No exceptions! Our children deserve our constant, unshakable, and total commitment here. Every day, 24/7 without fail," she said.
On Oct. 7, following a report of a shooting at a Detroit west side home, police arrived and found a child lying on the living room floor with a gunshot wound
to his mouth, according to the release from Worthy's office. Wallace is accused of leaving his three children – ages 4, 8 and 11 – at home by themselves with an unsecured gun.
Michigan law aims to keep guns out of the hands of children with criminal penalties when a child injures or kills themselves or others with an unsecured firearm. In 2025, firearms were the leading cause of death for children in the United States, according to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, an organization focused on curbing gun violence.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Father charged for violating gun storage law after son shot brother
