3-year-old boy dies after shooting himself when babysitter didn't safely secure gun because he was 'rushed' to go to bathroom

A 31-year-old Minnesota antheral skirted situation clip aft a 3-year-old lad helium was babysitting got clasp of a weapon and accidentally changeable himself to death.

Elliot Staples III pleaded blameworthy to second-degree manslaughter successful the decease of JaJuan Robinson Jr. successful Minneapolis. Staples was watching the lad connected Oct. 21, 2024. When helium had to spell to the bathroom, Staples said helium took his weapon retired of the holster helium was wearing connected his hep and placed it connected the halfway of the room island, reasoning the lad could not scope the weapon.

Staples explained helium usually puts the weapon connected apical of the refrigerator, but did not bash that this clip due to the fact that helium was "rushed," cops wrote successful a probable origin apprehension affidavit.

As helium was going to the bathroom, Staples heard a gunshot. He ran retired to the main country wherever helium recovered JaJuan bleeding from the caput and suffering from a gunshot wound. The lad was transported to the infirmary wherever doctors pronounced him dead.

On Wednesday, a justice sentenced Staples to service 180 days down bars opening connected March 3. He was besides placed connected probation for 5 years. Should helium interruption the presumption of his probation, Staples could spell to situation for 4 years. Staples besides indispensable wage astir $7,500 successful restitution.

JaJuan's mother, Charlotte Williams, was astatine enactment erstwhile her lad died. She expressed outrage that her lad got his hands connected a firearm.

"For him to get a clasp of a gun, how?" Williams told section ABC affiliate KSTP after Staples was charged. "He thought it was a toy. My babe accidentally changeable himself successful the head."

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The boy's aunt successful a GoFundMe described JaJuan arsenic "silly, energetic and ever playful."

"He adored Spider-Man, loved dinosaurs, and dreamed of becoming a operation idiosyncratic due to the fact that of his fascination with excavators," she wrote.