Gun used in 8-year-old's accidental fatal shooting was stashed in brother's backpack by stepfather
Armani Robinson, 26, of Detroit
DETROIT (FOX 2) - The gun used in the accidental shooting that killed an 8-year-old Detroit boy had been stashed inside his brother's backpack by his step-father, new details discussed during the man's arraignment Wednesday afternoon.
The gun was reported stolen before it was illegally purchased a month ago.
Armani Robinson, 26 of Detroit, is now facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and child abuse after Shawntaze ‘Cameron’ Moore had gotten ahold of the firearm inside his home in the 15700 block of Ward over the weekend.
Detroit police said Moore shot himself in the head around 10:30 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Robinson is also charged with tampering with evidence after he allegedly hid the firearm inside his car in the driveway after the shooting. He then went back into the house, found the shell casing, then hid it in his next-door neighbor's wooden garage wall.
Shawntaze Moore
A judge gave Robinson a $250,000 cash/surety bond.
During the hearing, Robinson asked the judge if he could attend his step-son's funeral. The magistrate will make a decision on Friday.
The incident is the latest in a string of accidental shootings involving children and unsecured firearms.
"We're always here talking about this, if you're going to be a gun owner you're going to have to be responsible and unfortunately we have yet another situation where one of Detroit's children was killed because an adult made a horrible decision to leave the gun unsecured," Chief James White said earlier this week.
Recent cases include a 5-year-old struck in the hand in May, an 11-year-old in April, and a 1-year-old shot by their brother in June.
"I am literally running out of things to say and write about this continuous stream of children shooting and killing themselves with unsecured guns. Once again, these deaths are 100% preventable and unnecessary," said Prosecutor Kym Worthy. "Does a child have to die in your home before this is taken seriously?"