A young mother is facing serious legal consequences after her 2-year-old son, Javarius Bickett, fatally shot himself with her handgun while sitting in the family vehicle outside a CVS pharmacy on the city’s north side.
According to court documents obtained by WTHR, the tragic incident occurred on June 19 in the parking lot of the CVS near East 46th Street and Keystone Avenue.
Police say the child accessed a 9mm Glock 26 Gen 5 from his mother Keiara Bickett’s purse, which had been left unzipped in the vehicle’s center console.
What Happened
Investigators say Keiara was in the car with Javarius and her 8-year-old daughter when the shooting happened.
The toddler reportedly climbed out of his car seat, reached into his mother’s purse, and discharged the weapon while sitting between his mother and sister.
Court filings indicate Keiara told police she was distracted by her phone when she heard a gunshot. She looked over to see Javarius collapse to the passenger side floorboard.
The boy was rushed to Riley Hospital for Children, where he died from his injuries. Officers recovered the firearm at the scene with one spent cartridge still in the chamber and a loaded magazine in place.
Following her arrest, Keiara’s mother defended her daughter, telling local media that while her daughter should not have left the weapon accessible, she loves her children deeply and “would never intentionally hurt them.”
Criminal Charges and Potential Penalty
Keiara, 28, has been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a felony that carries a sentencing range of 20 to 40 years in prison under Indiana law. She was booked into jail in late August and later released on a \$50,000 bond.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office stressed the broader implications of the case, pointing to another recent tragedy in which a 2-year-old girl died after finding a loaded gun at home.
Prosecutor Ryan Mears urged lawmakers to adopt stronger safe-storage and licensing requirements for gun owners, stating:
“Two children are gone, two families are shattered, and it never should have happened. Safe storage and responsible gun ownership are not optional — it’s a matter of life and death.”
Broader Context
This case underscores the ongoing debate over gun safety and parental responsibility in Indiana, a state that does not currently require permits to carry handguns and has limited safe-storage laws.
Legal experts note that cases like this highlight the potential criminal liability parents face when firearms are left unsecured around children.
