Tonya Charisse-Annice Johnson, a 41-year-old Michigan mother and DoorDash driver, faces serious charges after her 11-year-old son fatally shot his 6-year-old sister with an unsecured handgun left in their vehicle.
Incident Details
On Monday around noon, Johnson parked on the 9700 block of Harper Avenue in Detroit to pick up a food order, leaving her five children—ages 2 to 11—unattended inside with a loaded, unsecured gun. The 11-year-old found and fired the weapon, striking his 6-year-old sister in the head; she died at a hospital shortly after police arrived at 12:06 p.m.
Charges and Court
Johnson was charged with three counts of second-degree child abuse, failing to securely store a firearm resulting in death, and four felony firearm counts. She appeared virtually in court Thursday, visibly emotional and wiping away tears, with her next hearing set for March 13; her attorney noted her profound remorse.
Prosecutor Reaction
Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Aniela Bosca highlighted the lifelong trauma for the shooter, witnesses, and family, calling the incident “negligent.” Police investigation quickly led to the charges, emphasizing the preventable nature of the tragedy.
