Police: Indiana man charged after 3-year-old daughter accidentally shoots pregnant mother with a loaded gun he’d left in her car.
An Indiana man is facing charges after his 3-year-old daughter accidentally shot her pregnant mother with a gun he left in the woman’s car, police said Thursday.
Menzo Brazier, 21, of Michigan City was charged Thursday with two counts each of criminal recklessness and neglect of a dependent. He’s being held in the Lake County Jail in Crown Point.
Merrillville police said Shanique Thomas, who is seven weeks pregnant, told detectives that Brazier was inside a thrift store shopping Tuesday and she stayed outside in the car because she had a headache and was feeling ill.
« Thomas stated that while she was sitting in the driver’s seat she suddenly heard a loud pop like a balloon » and realized she was bleeding, police said in a news release.
A bullet passed through the driver’s seat, Thomas’ upper right chest, and the windshield, police said.
Brazier had left a loaded handgun between the center arm rest and the front passenger seat, according to police. Detective Sgt. James Bogner said the child « had no idea what she had done and she was very scared. »
The girl has been placed in protective custody along with a 1-year-old boy who also was in the car at the time.
Police said Thomas underwent surgery and suffered nerve damage. They didn’t comment on the condition of her unborn child.
