In a parental responsibility case, the Oakland County prosecutor is pursuing criminal charges against the parents of a 3-year-old Pontiac boy who was shot and killed at home, allegedly by someone who got a hold of a loaded gun that wasn't properly secured in the house.
The case comes following the historic case of James and Jennifer Crumbley, the convicted parents of the Oxford High School shooter who were held criminally responsible for failing to secure a gun that their son got a hold of, and used to shoot up his school in 2021, killing four students and injuring seven others, including a teacher.
In this latest case, authorities said, the father and mother told investigators that they knew an unsecured gun was in their basement, which is where
the shooting happened while the entire family was home.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, the mother, father, grandmother and four children, all under the age of eight, were home at the time of the shooting, which occurred on Sept. 15. around 5 p.m. That's when sheriff's deputies were called to the Maynard Court home about a child who had been shot in the head, authorities said. The child was transported to McLaren Oakland Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to the prosecutor's office, the gun used in the shooting was found in the basement, where at least two children, including the victim, were at the time of the shooting. Authorities said the gun belonged to the father, 40-year-old Michael Lacy, who according to the sheriff's office, left the scene before deputies arrived. He returned later that evening and was taken into custody without incident.
On Friday, Sept. 18, the prosecutor's office announced criminal charges against Lacy and the mom, Kasharae Herron, 31, who were both arraigned that same day on charges of failure to store a firearm resulting in death.
“This tragedy was entirely preventable, and it is enraging to see another child lose his life so senselessly,” McDonald said in a statement announcing the charges. “Securing a firearm is simple and effective. It is the legal responsibility of every adult who chooses to possess a firearm.”
McDonald's comments echo the arguments she made during the historic Crumbley trials, when she told jurors the parents failed to do the "smallest of things" - like put a cable lock on the gun that their son snuck out of the house.
In the Pontiac case, authorities said, the gun wasn't only unsecured: it was loaded.
“On every level, this tragedy was 100 percent preventable. Both suspects knew there was a loaded, unsecured firearm in a home with five children under the age of eight, and now a three-year-old child is dead,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a statement. “With great rights come equally great responsibilities— there must be accountability for the reckless behavior that led to (the shooting).”
Sheriff's office examines gun
According to Bouchard, his office recovered a Taurus 9 mm handgun that was registered to the dad. Two spent shell casings and a bullet fragment were also recovered from the basement, where investigators determined the shooting occurred.
During the investigation, Bouchard said, both Lacy and Herron told detectives they knew the firearm was unsecured in the basement. All of the children, meanwhile, have been removed from the house under a judge's removal order, obtained by Child Protective Services.
Failure to Store a Firearm Resulting in Death is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
The couple were not readily available for comment. Lacy and Herron were arraigned on Sept. 18 in 50th District Court, where bond was set for each defendant at $25,000 cash or surety. If either posts bond, they will be required to wear a GPS tether. A probable cause conference for both is scheduled in 50th District Court, where a judge will decide if there's enough evidence to send the case to trial.
Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pontiac parents charged with not hiding gun properly after child's death
