DETROIT, MI — The mother of a 2-year-old boy who shot himself in the stomach inside a Detroit home on Tuesday morning is facing charges after prosecutors said the child found an unsecured gun in a bedroom. The boy remained in critical condition at a nearby hospital, and a 4-year-old sibling was also inside the house but was not hurt.

The Facts

• What: Prosecutors say a 2-year-old boy accidentally shot himself with a gun found inside the home.
• Where: A house on Evergreen Road near the Jeffries Freeway on Detroit’s west side.
• When: Just after 8 a.m. Tuesday morning, according to police.
• Who: Amoya Black, 26, of Detroit, is the child’s mother and the person charged in the case.
• Charges: Firearms safe-storage violation, premises under an individual’s control with a minor present, and inflicting serious impairment of a body function upon self or another.
• Status: Black was expected to be arraigned Thursday morning in Wayne County’s 36th District Court.

What police say

Detroit police said Black was cooking breakfast when she heard a loud pop coming from a bedroom. Investigators later determined that the child had located an unsecured weapon and fired it accidentally.

The boy was taken to a nearby hospital after the shooting. Police said he was last listed in critical condition. Authorities also said another child, a 4-year-old sibling, was in the home at the time.

The case was announced by the prosecutor’s office on Thursday. The charges reflect the allegation that the gun was not secured in a way that would keep it away from minors.

The investigation

In cases like this, investigators typically work to reconstruct the sequence of events inside the home, including where the firearm was kept, how a child reached it, and whether the weapon was loaded. Police often rely on statements from people at the scene, physical evidence, and the location of the gun itself.

When a child is wounded by a firearm, detectives may also examine whether safe-storage laws were followed and whether other adults were present. In this case, police said the child found an unsecured weapon in the bedroom, and that finding is central to the charge filed by prosecutors.

Authorities did not say whether any additional evidence was collected or whether anyone else could face charges. No tip line was announced in the announcement of the case.

What the charges mean

A safe-storage charge generally alleges that a gun owner failed to keep a firearm secured when a minor was present. These cases can turn on whether the weapon was locked, unloaded, and stored separately from ammunition, depending on the law and the facts investigators document.

The count alleging serious impairment of a body function is a serious felony accusation that can be filed when prosecutors believe a person’s conduct caused major physical injury. In firearm cases, the legal theory may focus on the risk and harm created by leaving a gun accessible to a child.

An arraignment is the first court appearance where the charges are read and early release conditions can be addressed. A judge may also consider bond, future court dates, and whether the case will proceed through plea discussions, hearings, or trial.

What happens next

Black was expected to appear before Magistrate Delphia Burton at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Wayne County’s 36th District Court. That proceeding would be the first formal step in the case after the charging decision.

From there, the court process can move through bond review, additional hearings, and later decisions on how prosecutors intend to proceed. The child’s medical condition may also remain a key part of the case as it moves forward.

Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).