Mother Charged in Accidental Death of Son

Lakeisha Gadson made up a story for police when her eight-year-old son was shot to death in her apartment, per an AP report.  She claimed that three armed men had burst in and shot three rounds into her son, Liquarry.

The next day Gadson told the police a different story. She admitted that it was Liquarry's seven-year-old cousin that accidentally triggered the fatal shot.

Gadson is now being tried for manslaughter because prosecutors have determined that she is responsible for her son's death by allowing her 15-year-old son to keep a loaded handgun in a dresser within reach of a child.

Gadson claims that she knew nothing about the gun in the apartment.  Her attorney, Peter Krupp stated, "I expect that going through this trial is going to be the second-most painful thing to ever happen to her."

Jury selection will be held in Suffolk Superior Court. 

Legal experts have questioned whether jurors will be able to find Gadson guilty.  She is a single mother, raising five children in the crime-filled neighborhood of Dorchester, Boston. 

Gadson's 15-year-old-son, Jayquan McConnico, admitted that he alone brought the gun into the apartment, plead guilty to manslaughter in October and is currently in a youth detention center that will hold him until he turns 21.

Edward P. Ryan, criminal defense attorney and former president of the Massachusetts Bar Association, said, "They are going to have to prove the mother knew the gun was in the apartment, knew it was a working firearm, knew it was in the dresser, and knew -- at a minimum -- that it was accessible to the kids. I don't think there's enough there to prosecute the mother on the manslaughter charge."

Tim Bradl, a criminal defense lawyer and former state prosecutor that finds the charge viable, stated, "Parents are the guardians of their kids, and if they let their kid get into something that causes a death, they are routinely held accountable for that. The unique aspect of this case is that a firearm was involved."

Police reports show that the young boys were in McConnoco's bedroom playing with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol that they were able to get from a 1-½ foot tall dresser.  When they heard a shot, family members found Liquarry on the floor.  He later died at a hospital.

The child's death caused Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to return earlier than expected from a meeting with mayors in Los Angeles, coincidentally about tougher gun control laws.

Liquarry C. Jefferson, the boy's father, is well known to the local police, as he was convicted of manslaughter in 1998 and is now currently serving a four-year sentence for multiple armed robberies.  Also familiar to the police, is Gadson's own criminal record for several assaults and McConnico's long juvenile record.

In jury selection, associate clinical professor at Suffolk University Law School, Chris Dearborn said, "If I'm the prosecutor, I want a lot of outraged parents.  If I'm the defense, I want people who appreciate mistakes and people who have been around frightening situations and understand why you might want to have a gun in the house."

Gadson could serve a maximum of 20 years if found guilty in the manslaughter charge.  She also is facing reckless endangerment of a child, assault and battery on a child with substantial injury, firearms violations and a charge of misleading police.

If you are facing a criminal charge, contact a criminal defense attorney for experienced help.