MARIANNA, Fla. (WTXL) - A local mother has been charged with child neglect after her 6-year-old son was shot in the head in late January 2018.
Whitney Smith, the mother of 6-year-old Ervin Sims, was arrested and charged with child neglect.
Ervin died days after being accidentally shot in the head by a family member on Jan 26. The 6-year-old died days after the shooting.
After conducting a thorough investigation, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office filed a complaint with the State Attorney on February 27, 2018, against Smith.
As a result, the State Attorney issued a warrant for Smith's arrest on child neglect charges. On Wednesday, Smith was arrested and taken to the Jackson County Corrections Facility to await first appearance.
MARIANNA, Fla. (AP) - A 6-year-old Florida boy has died days after being accidentally shot in the head by a family member.
The News Herald reports Ervin Gerard Sims Jr. died Tuesday while being treated for injuries sustained in the Friday night shooting at a home in Mariana, which is in Florida's Panhandle.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office said the child was air-lifted to Pensacola for treatment. They have not released many details about the shooting, including who shot the gun.
Officials said this is the second accidental shooting of a child in Jackson County during January. An 8-year-old girl suffered a gunshot would when a weapon accidentally charged on Jan. 7. She was also taken to a Pensacola hospital in stable condition.
No charges have been made in that case.
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