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Detroit parents charged in shooting of 3-year-old

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Posted at 3:14 PM, Mar 27, 2021
and last updated 2021-03-28 09:08:40-04

DETROIT (WXYZ) — Two Detroit parents have been charged in connection with the non-fatal shooting of their 3-year-old son.

Thirty-two-year-old Anthony Smith has been charged with one count of child abuse second-degree, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of felony firearms. Thirty-nine-year-old Tenisha Christian has been charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of felony firearm.

Both were arraigned on Saturday. Smith was given a $10,000 personal bond. Christian was given a $5,000 personal bond. Both are due back in court on May 5.

Officials say the 3-year-old shot himself in the arm on March 9 when he picked up an unsecured handgun.

“This case came to our office on the same day as another child shooting case, as a result of unsafe storage of a weapon,“ said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy in a news release. "Way too many innocent, very young children have easy access to these deadly weapons and this situation usually ends up with a seriously injured or fatally wounded child. I do not understand why the adults cannot safely store their firearms.”