Inset: Jacob Grayson (Delaware County Jail). Background: The 2800 block of South Monroe Street in Muncie, Indiana, where Grayson's 6-year-old son accidentally shot his younger sister to death (WXIN).
An Indiana jury convicted a 32-year-old father after his 6-year-old son took a gun from a safe with the key still in the lock and accidentally shot his 5-year-old sister to death.
Jacob Grayson was found guilty of neglect of a dependent resulting in the death of Crystal Rose Grayson in Muncie, the Delaware County Prosecutor's Office said. He was also convicted of three lesser counts of child neglect. Grayson faces more than 40 years in prison at sentencing on Nov. 12.
"The facts of this case and the utter disregard for the safety of these young children make me want to puke," Prosecutor Eric Hoffman said in a statement. "This 5-year-old child should have never had access to a firearm. Every parent has an absolute affirmative duty to protect their child. Jacob Grayson and his wife Kimberly miserably failed at this very basic parental duty."
Kimberly Grayson was convicted of the same charges in March. Her sentencing has been delayed because of competency concerns, local Fox affiliate WXIN reported.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by the outlet, Muncie police responded on July 26, 2022, to the home in the 2800 block of South Monroe Street for a shooting.
When cops arrived, they found Crystal with a gunshot wound to the head. Paramedics rushed her to the hospital, where she died.
The 6-year-old said he found the gun in a safe in his parents' bedroom dresser while his mom took a nap. He said the key was still in the safe's lock, so he turned it and opened the safe. He grabbed the gun and was playing with it when it accidentally went off and hit his sister.
Jacob Grayson told cops that his son had found the gun before. Rather than put it somewhere the boy couldn't reach, the father shifted it to the other side of the dresser.
Cops described the home as "deplorable" with trash and animal feces throughout. The children's mattresses were soiled and had no bedding.
Crystal was described as a "typical 5-year-old, with an energetic spirt and an infectious smile."
"Crystal loved to watch cartoons, with her absolute favorite being Olaf from the movie 'Frozen,'" her obituary said. "She touched so many people in the short time she was on this earth."
Comments