Prosecutor’s decision questioned after grieving mother charged

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Kanisha Shelton arrived to court shielded by a group of women wearing white tee shirts. She did not say a word as she walked passed a sea of cameras and reporters.

On Wednesday, Marion County Prosecutor’s Office announced charges against Shelton. The mother has been charged with felony neglect of a dependent after her 2-year-old son accidentally shot himself.

This happened in the 5200 block of Alameda Road on April 20.

According to Marion County Corner the two-year-old died from a gun shot wound in the chest.

In court documents, Shelton tells police that she left a .380 handgun in her purse on a counter on the evening of April 20th. She told detectives that as she was putting her nine-month-old daughter to bed she heard her cell phone ring, followed by a loud “boom”.

Shelton immediately rushed to her son’s aid and started CPR, while calling 911. Detectives say Shelton had a valid gun permit to carry a handgun, she was also taking classes at Don’s Guns, she told detectives part of her instructions were to keep the gun loaded and one in the chamber.

After her initial hearing on Thursday, Shelton left the courtroom without making a comment. Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Teresa Hall defended the prosecutor’s decision to charge Shelton.

“It is not unique, there have been charges in Marion County and in other places in the state,” said Hall.

24-Hour News did some research, and discovered that nearly three years ago a toddler picked up a gun and accidentally shot himself in the head at a house in Broad Ripple. The toddler would die from his injures, about three months after his death prosecutor’s charged his parents Sandra Tomich, and Nicholas Gulling with charges related to the child’s death. The couple is still currently going through the court proceedings.

Currently, Shelton’s jury trial is scheduled for July 13th.