According to officials, a 5-year-old boy in Georgia is charged with murder after he unintentionally shot and killed his twin brother.
In connection with the death of her 5-year-old son Jeremiah George Jr., 25-year-old Lanecia Bennett is charged with second-degree murder and child cruelty. They discovered the victim with a gunshot wound after the incident, which took place Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at an apartment in the Decatur neighborhood located in the 4400 block of Pleasant Point Drive. After being taken to the hospital, the boy passed away. That day, his mother was taken into custody by DeKalb Police Department officers.
The twins found a loaded, unlocked revolver in their mother’s handbag on a bedside table as they were playing in her bedroom, according to a bond motion filed in DeKalb County Superior Court.
According to po;ice, the surviving twin, Jeremiah was accidently shot and murdered.
According to police, Bennett was the only adult present in the house at the time.
DeKalb police public information officer Blaine Clark wrote in a press release, “As investigators continue to piece together the events of this tragic shooting, we want to remind the public that if they have guns, it’s important for owners to do what they can to keep guns out of children’s hands.” Clark also mentioned that the department provides free gun safes for certain firearms.
Bennett’s lawyers asked for an emergency hearing in Superior Court after she was first detained without bond at the DeKalb County jail. She has since posted the $30,000 bond that a judge set for her on Friday.
“Ms. Bennett is grieving this heart-wrenching and unexpected loss of her son,” the attorneys stated. “She is needed during this really trying period by her other son. Furthermore, Ms. Bennett is now faced with the heartbreaking responsibility of organizing her son’s burial.
After the shooting, I spoke with some shocked neighbors. Before performing CPR, Chase Houle claimed to have witnessed the medics enter the apartment and exit with the boy.
“That could be anyone’s child, including mine. I immediately became emotional since, as I mentioned, I had two children, ages three and four. He told the publication, “So, yeah, that was really emotional.”
