Evelyn Leyva Etress, 40, has been charged with reckless manslaughter and aggravated child abuse after her 2-year-old son, Noah, was found with a fatal gunshot wound at their Blount County home on Jan. 7. First responders transported the child to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators recovered multiple firearms and say surviving children are now in state custody; prosecutors say the wound was not self-inflicted and the probe remains ongoing. Authorities urge caregivers to secure firearms and report suspected child abuse.
Alabama Mother Charged After 2-Year-Old Son Fatally Shot in Home
Blount County Sheriff's OfficeEvelyn Leyva Etress
An Alabama woman, Evelyn Leyva Etress, 40, has been charged after her 2-year-old son, Noah, was found with a fatal gunshot wound inside the family home in Blount County, authorities said.
Deputies responded to the residence about 10 a.m. on Jan. 7 and discovered Noah suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, Sheriff Mark Moon said during a news conference. First responders performed lifesaving measures at the scene before the child was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey announced on Jan. 9 that Etress faces charges of reckless manslaughter and aggravated child abuse. Investigators recovered multiple firearms inside the home, and the surviving children have been placed in the custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
According to court records obtained by local outlets, Etress told investigators she had left Noah and two of his siblings alone in a bedroom while she went to make tea. She reported hearing a loud noise and returning to find two children running from a closet and Noah on the floor near a handgun. Prosecutors say Noah did not suffer a self-inflicted wound; they have not released information identifying who fired the shot or the precise sequence of events.
"When a gun is left out, a child doesn’t see danger, they see something familiar," D.A. Pamela Casey said. "And that misunderstanding can turn into tragedy in seconds."
Officials said the shooting is believed to be accidental but the investigation remains active. Etress was reportedly also held on separate drug-related charges and was released from custody on Jan. 10; it is unclear whether she has entered a plea or retained counsel.
The sheriff urged parents and caregivers to secure firearms safely in any home where children live or visit. If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline is toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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