Grandmother convicted after 9-year-old used her gun to kill a teen girl.
A grandmother has been convicted of criminal negligence after her 9-year-old granddaughter used her gun to shoot and kill a 15-year-old girl in their home in Louisiana. According to CNN, Marie Williams was found guilty of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile and negligent homicide on Monday.
The incident occurred in February when Williams’ granddaughter found her gun and accidentally shot and killed a 15-year-old girl who was visiting the house. Williams was not home at the time of the shooting, but she was charged with criminal negligence for leaving her gun unsecured and accessible to a child.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Williams had a duty to secure her gun and prevent it from falling into the hands of a child. They also presented evidence that Williams had previously been warned about the dangers of leaving her gun unsecured.
Williams’ defense team argued that she had taken steps to secure her gun, but that her granddaughter had found a key to the safe where the gun was stored. They also argued that Williams had no reason to believe that her granddaughter would be able to access the gun.
After a week-long trial, the jury found Williams guilty of both charges. She now faces up to 40 years in prison for the second-degree cruelty to a juvenile charge and up to five years for the negligent homicide charge.
The case has highlighted the importance of gun safety and the need for gun owners to take responsibility for securing their firearms. According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, every year, nearly 300 children under the age of 18 gain access to a firearm and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else.
The tragedy of this case serves as a reminder that gun owners have a responsibility to keep their guns out of the hands of children. It is crucial that they take steps to secure their firearms and prevent them from being used in a tragedy such as this.
Conclusion
The conviction of Marie Williams is a tragic reminder of the importance of gun safety. It is the responsibility of gun owners to secure their firearms and prevent them from falling into the hands of children. The consequences of failing to do so can be devastating, as this case has shown. As we continue to grapple with the issue of gun violence in our
