Boyfriend Who Owned Rifle Connected To Death Of 10-Year-Old To Be Arraigned
DETROIT (WWJ) - A Detroit man has been charged in the shooting death of a 10-year-old boy.
Police say 34-year-old Clifton Shortie left a loaded rifle unsecured in the basement of a home.
His girlfriend's son found the rifle at some point after Shortie left the home.
While playing with it, the rifle discharged striking the young boy. When Shortie returned, he found the wounded boy and called 911.
The child was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
WWJ Legal Analyst Charlie Langton weighed in on the charge against Shortie.
"You have to be a little careful when you are talking about involuntary manslaughter - it could go either way," said Langton. "It depends what the jury says and what the jury thinks. The problem with this guy though is since he is a felon, he's not supposed to have a gun at all. That's probably where the jury will focus in on that - a felon having a gun, leaving it loaded and leaving the house alone with a 10 year old."
"Here's the problem with the case: an adult can not leave a minor, a 10-year-old, at home with a loaded rifle and if you do bad things are going to happen and in the case it did. It's a crime and that's an appropriate charge - involuntary manslaughter," said Langton.
Shortie will be arraigned Thursday on charges including involuntary manslaughter, second degree child abuse, and felon in possession of a firearm.
