An Arizona mother is dead after her 5-year-old son fatally shot her in their home.
On Friday, Michele Cox was home with her kids and boyfriend when the 5-year-old got hold of a gun and shot her in the chest. She was airlifted to Chandler hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. It is unclear if her boyfriend or other sons, aged 4, 11, and 12, witnessed the shooting.
Cox recently relocated to Casa Grande, Arizona, from California to help care for her cancer-stricken father. The 38-year-old brought along four of her five children.
Detectives located the gun at the scene and are confident that the child accidentally pulled the trigger. However, Cox’s brother, Michael, still believes that someone should be held responsible for allowing the child to be that close to the weapon.
“In the event that is the truth, that her 5-year-old picked up a .45 caliber and shot it at his mother, somebody still should be prosecuted for negligence for even having a gun at all,” he said before adding, “I would really love for the person responsible for having the gun to be prosecuted.”
No charges have been filed yet. The children, who Michael says are distraught, are now in the care of their grandfather.
