A mother from Villages at Roll Hill has been charged after her 2-year-old son suffered a gunshot wound, according to court documents.
Teasia Leonard, 22, is charged with child endangerment in connection with the May 31 incident which Chief Teresa Theetge said was caused by “negligence by a gun owner” to secure their firearm.
The child was hospitalized after the shooting, but survived.
Court documents state Leonard left the toddler alone in a room where the child suffered a gunshot wound.
Earlier this month, another person was charged in connection with the child’s death. Carmelo Anderson, 21, is charged with tampering with evidence.
Court documents state Anderson gave the handgun to someone and told them to “get rid of it.”
A 2023 ordinance by the city to regulate gun storage, under existing child endangerment laws, was blocked by an Ohio state appeals court. State law bans most local gun regulations, the court said in 2024 ruling.
The ordinance stated firearms should not be stored where “a child is able to gain access to the firearm,” and that failing to do so creates a substantial risk to the health and safety of a child. It was written to allow charges to be filed even if no one is hurt in an incident.
Leonard’s lawyer had not responded to a voicemail request comment at the time of this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mother charged after 2-year-old suffers gunshot wound