Michigan Man Charged After 4-Year-Old Girl Fatally Shoots Herself With Improperly Stored Gun, Prosecutors Say
LANSING, MICHIGAN — A Michigan man is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors say a 4-year-old girl fatally shot herself in the head with a gun that was not properly stored, a tragedy authorities describe as entirely preventable.
Child Pronounced Dead at Scene Despite Lifesaving Efforts
According to a press release from the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office, police were called to a home in Lansing at approximately 11:40 a.m. on Jan. 21 after reports of a child suffering a gunshot wound.
When officers arrived, they found the 4-year-old girl with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but the child was pronounced dead at the scene, prosecutors said.
Gun Was Not Stored Safely, Authorities Say
Prosecutors allege the firearm was improperly stored inside the home, allowing the child to access it. The relationship between the child and the defendant has not been publicly disclosed.
The man charged in the case, Maliki Pendergrass, 22, was arrested by the Lansing Police Department following the investigation.
Defendant Prohibited From Owning Firearms
Authorities said Pendergrass had a prior felony conviction, which legally barred him from possessing a firearm under Michigan law.
He has been charged with six felony firearms offenses, including two safe storage violations, stemming from the unsecured weapon that prosecutors say led directly to the child’s death.
Pendergrass is currently being held in jail on $1 million bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 6, according to court records.
Prosecutor Calls Death “Completely Preventable”
Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney John Dewane said the fatal shooting could have been avoided had basic gun safety measures been followed.
“This death was completely preventable,” Dewane said. “It would not have occurred had the firearm been safely stored as required by Michigan law, using a gun lock or gun safe. One life lost is one too many, and we must do everything in our power to protect our children from preventable tragedies like this.”
Neighbors React With Grief and Anger
Local residents in the apartment complex where the shooting occurred expressed heartbreak and frustration in interviews with WILX.
One neighbor, who declined to appear on camera, tearfully urged gun owners to reconsider their actions.
“They need to put the guns down,” the woman said. “They just need to put them down, they need to go find something better to do.”
Ongoing Reminder About Gun Safety
The case has renewed attention on safe firearm storage laws, particularly in homes with children. Michigan law requires guns to be secured with locking devices or safes to prevent unauthorized access by minors.
Authorities continue to stress that unsecured firearms pose a serious and often fatal risk to children, even when adults believe weapons are out of reach.
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