A 4-year-old girl in Lansing, Michigan, fatally shot herself on Jan. 21 after reportedly finding a firearm that investigators say was improperly stored. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Maliki Pendergrass and charged him with multiple felonies, including a safe-storage violation resulting in death and unlawful possession of a weapon. Pendergrass has a prior armed robbery conviction and was not legally permitted to possess a gun; his bond is set at $1 million and his next court date is Feb. 6. Prosecutors called the death "completely preventable" and said safe storage could have averted the tragedy.
22-Year-Old Charged After 4-Year-Old Fatally Shoots Herself With Improperly Stored Gun
Lansing Police DepartmentMaliki Pendergrass
A Lansing, Michigan, child died after gaining access to a firearm that investigators say was not stored securely. Authorities have arrested 22-year-old Maliki Pendergrass and charged him with multiple felonies related to the incident.
What Happened
Police responded to reports of a shooting at a Lansing home on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Officers found a 4-year-old girl with a gunshot wound; despite lifesaving attempts by first responders, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lansing Police DepartmentLansing Police vehicle
Allegations and Charges
Investigators allege the firearm had been improperly stored, which allowed the child to access it and fire the fatal shot. The Ingham County Prosecutor's Office has charged Maliki Pendergrass with multiple felonies, including a safe-storage violation resulting in death and weapon possession by a prohibited person.
Pendergrass, 22, has a prior felony conviction for armed robbery and was not legally permitted to possess a firearm. Officials have not publicly disclosed his relationship to the child. His bond is set at $1 million, and his next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 6.
Lansing Police DepartmentMaliki Pendergrass
"This child’s death was completely preventable and would not have occurred had the firearm been safely stored as required by Michigan law, using a gun lock or gun safe," said Ingham County Prosecutor John J. Dewane. "One life lost is one too many, and we must do everything in our power to protect our children from preventable tragedies like this."
Ongoing Investigation
Investigators continue to probe how the child obtained the weapon and whether other charges may follow. The Lansing Police Department and the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office confirmed the charges through local outlets; the Lansing Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from some media organizations.
Reporting on the case has appeared in local outlets including Cleveland 19, Fox 47 and Arc West Michigan; the facts above were confirmed by those outlets and the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office.
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