DETROIT, MICHIGAN — A Detroit mother is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors say an unsecured handgun left inside her vehicle led to a tragic shooting that killed her 6-year-old daughter while she stepped inside a restaurant to pick up a DoorDash order.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Tonya Charisse-Annice Johnson, 41, left five of her children — ranging in age from 2 to 11 years old — inside a vehicle while she went into a restaurant on Harper Avenue near Gratiot Avenue.
While the children were alone in the vehicle, prosecutors say an 11-year-old boy discovered a handgun under the driver’s seat, setting off a heartbreaking chain of events.
Child Found Gun Under Driver’s Seat
Authorities say the 11-year-old boy located the firearm beneath the driver’s seat and fired it while inside the vehicle. The bullet struck his 6-year-old sister in the back of the head, causing critical injuries.
Police were called to the scene around 12:06 p.m. and found the young girl suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency responders rushed her to a hospital, but she later died from her injuries.
Prosecutors Say Tragedy Was Preventable
During Johnson’s arraignment, prosecutors argued the shooting could have been avoided if the firearm had been properly secured.
An assistant prosecutor told the court that too many children are injured or killed due to improperly stored firearms, describing the situation as a preventable tragedy. Prosecutors also noted that Johnson is a concealed pistol license holder, meaning she was expected to understand and follow proper firearm storage practices.
Investigators said the boy told authorities that his mother “always has a gun in the car.” He also reportedly said he knew the gun was real but did not realize it was loaded.
Conflicting Statements and Additional Guns Found
According to prosecutors, Johnson initially told officers she did not know the gun was inside the vehicle.
Later, investigators say she told authorities she was unsure whether she had removed it from the car or not, creating conflicting statements about the weapon’s presence. When investigators later searched Johnson’s home, they reportedly discovered additional firearms registered to her that were also unsecured.
Mother Faces Multiple Felony Charges
Johnson now faces several serious charges in connection with the child’s death. Prosecutors say she has been charged with safe storage firearm violation causing death, three counts of second-degree child abuse, and four counts of felony firearm.
She was arraigned Thursday in 36th District Court and given a $30,000 bond. The case has drawn attention to the dangers of unsecured firearms around children and the lasting trauma families can face after preventable accidents involving guns.
As the legal process moves forward, the tragedy remains a painful reminder of how quickly a moment of negligence can lead to irreversible consequences. For more breaking stories and updates, visit GordonRamsayClub.com.
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