Philadelphia

Judge Rejects Bail, House Arrest for Philadelphia Mother of Child who Shot Self

A judge has rejected reduced bail or house arrest for a woman whose four-year-old daughter died of a shot from a gun that police said the child found in the closet of their north Philadelphia home.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that prosecutors called 26-year-old Shakeya Holmes a flight risk. She's charged with involuntary manslaughter and related offenses.

Police said 4-year-old Sani found a handgun on a closet shelf June 23. Prosecutors said Holmes repeatedly changed her story about what happened and lied to police about the provenance of the gun. Defense attorneys said she was hysterical and panicking. They call the shooting a tragic accident.

A charge of third-degree murder against Holmes was dismissed earlier. Her boyfriend, Demetrius Williams, is also charged with involuntary manslaughter and related counts.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us