An Indiana couple has been arrested and charged with neglect and drug-related felonies after they killed their 1-year-old son.
According to police, Deonta Jermaine Johnson and Shatia Tiara Welch’s son was shot to death at their apartment on the 500 block of Westchester Lane in Romney Meadows on the city’s southwest side shortly after 3 PM.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim, his brother, 5, and Johnson in the home. The couple was immediately apprehended and charged with neglect resulting in death, neglect resulting in bodily injury and neglect of a dependent. The couple was also charged with drug dealing and possession charges.
An autopsy report revealed the 1-year-old died from a gunshot wound to the head. There was also marijuana found in his system at the time of his death.
Police records further reveal the victim’s 5-year-old brother tested positive for cocaine.
Johnson, 27, and Welch, 24, were both booked at the Tippecanoe County Jail.
When interviewed by police, Johnson changed his version of what led to his child’s death.
“Johnson then claimed he woke up on the couch, saw (Welch’s 5-year-old son) on the couch, heard a boom, took the marijuana to the car, went to Victim 1’s bedroom and found Victim 1 dead and called Welch,” a probable cause affidavit from the prosecutor’s office reads.
Police searched the home where the incident took place and found 93 pills of fentanyl, marijuana and paraphernalia. They also found marijuana and a marijuana grinder, according to prosecutors.
According to a statement made to police, Welch said she owns the gun used in the shooting of the 1-year-old, but she said it is usually kept hidden under her bed in a locked box. She further added that she did not remember whether it was locked at the time of the shooting.
In addition to the aforementioned charges, Johnson also faces a charge of obstruction of justice for removing marijuana from the apartment before police arrived, authorities say.
