An Indiana mother lashed out in court after being sentenced to six years in prison for neglect, following the accidental shooting of her 1-year-old son by his older brother.
On March 28, 2023, 26-year-old Shatia Tiara Welch's 1-year-old son was fatally shot inside her apartment in Romney Meadows, Indiana, the Journal & Courier reported. Welch's then-5-year-old son found an unsecured handgun and fired it, killing his younger sibling.
The investigation also revealed that the infant had tested positive for marijuana, while the older child later tested positive for cocaine. Welch and her boyfriend, Deonta Jermaine Johnson, were arrested in July 2023 on charges of neglect, drug possession and drug dealing.
Welch pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury last month as part of a plea deal that dismissed more severe neglect and drug-related charges. During her sentencing, Welch erupted in frustration, claiming she had already suffered enough by losing her son.
"I lost a son," Welch told the court. "Lafayette, Tippecanoe County definitely made it more than what it was. More than what it was. I lost more than enough. Something I will never get back. You can never walk in my shoes."
The mom directed her anger at the prosecutor, arguing that authorities could not definitively prove what happened. Judge Steve Meyer responded by emphasizing her responsibility in failing to secure the firearm, which ultimately led to the tragic death.
"Do you think that I don't think every day what I lost?" Welch continued. "Every day. Every night. Every minute of every second."
The judge sentenced her to six years in prison, followed by two years of community corrections and five years of supervised probation. Welch will serve 75% of her prison sentence, equating to approximately 54 months.
Meanwhile, Johnson, who was home at the time of the shooting, is scheduled to stand trial on May 19.
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