A Georgia mother is facing serious criminal charges after her 5-year-old son was accidentally shot and killed by his twin brother with an unsecured firearm found in her bedroom, according to authorities in DeKalb County.
Lanecia Bennett, 25, has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree child cruelty in the tragic death of her son, Jeremiah George Jr.
The shooting occurred shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, at an apartment on Pleasant Point Drive in Decatur, just east of Atlanta.
Police say the two young boys were playing in their mother’s bedroom when they discovered a loaded and unsecured handgun inside Bennett’s purse, which was placed on a bedside table. One of the twins accidentally discharged the weapon, striking his brother.
Emergency responders arrived quickly and transported Jeremiah to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. No other adults were reportedly present in the home at the time of the shooting, investigators said.
Police Statement and Legal Proceedings
“This is a heartbreaking incident that underscores the vital importance of responsible gun ownership,” said Blaine Clark, public information officer for the DeKalb Police Department. “Firearms must be stored securely and kept out of the reach of children.”
Clark added that the department offers free gun safes for residents who own firearms, as part of an initiative to prevent such tragedies.
Bennett was arrested at the scene and booked into the DeKalb County Jail without bond. However, during an emergency hearing held the next day in DeKalb County Superior Court, a judge set her bond at $30,000, which she has since posted.
In court filings, Bennett’s defense attorneys emphasized the overwhelming emotional toll of the incident.
“Ms. Bennett is grieving this heart-wrenching and unexpected loss of her son,” they wrote. “Her other son needs her during this extraordinarily difficult time. In addition, Ms. Bennett now has the devastating task of planning her son’s funeral.”
Community Reaction
The shooting has left neighbors in shock and sorrow. Speaking to NBC affiliate WXIA, nearby resident Chase Houle described the emotional scene as paramedics arrived.
“That could be my child, that could be anyone’s child,” he said. “I have a three-year-old and a four-year-old. I instantly got emotional.”
Gun Safety and Parental Responsibility
The case reignites long-standing debates over gun safety, parental accountability, and the legal consequences of firearm-related child deaths. Child advocacy groups and gun control advocates say such cases highlight the urgent need for stronger enforcement of safe storage laws.
Georgia law does not currently require firearms to be stored in locked containers or with safety devices in homes, although negligence laws may still apply in cases involving child endangerment.
