A mother has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after her toddler son got his hands on a gun he thought was a toy and accidentally shot and killed himself.
According to the Colorado judge who sentenced now 33-year-old Melissa Michelle Adamson, her negligence contributed to the death of her 2-year-old son Lohki Bloom in 2018. As KMGH reports, authorities say Lohki loved playing with squirt guns and got into the habit of drinking water from them.
RELATED: Mom Charged With 2 Counts of Murder After Telling Police Her Son Hung Himself and His Sister
So when the toddler discovered his mom’s loaded Ruger .380 pistol in their home on October 21, 2018, Lohki thought it was a squirt gun and used it as he usually would. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Two other children were also in the home at the time of Lohki’s passing, The Colorado Gazette reports. According to authorities, Adamson was also a recovering meth addict.
She told police that she had loaded the gun after receiving a threatening text from her former drug dealer, “Beast.” Authorities told KMGH that they also found an ax and needles within Lohki’s reach. Adamson was reportedly high at the time of her son’s death.
The mom told authorities that she placed the loaded gun in a desk drawer after her argument with “Beast” came to a resolution. Security footage from inside the apartment building where Lohki and his family resided showed the little boy with the gun.
Mom Sentenced to 24 Years After Leaving Gun Loaded in Home
As The Colorado Gazette reported in 2018, security footage shows Lohki entering the office where the gun was placed. Then, “within five seconds,” a dog in the hallway reacted to the gunshot, and Lohki’s father, who was reportedly in the living room watching television, is seen running into the office. The father is then seen again walking out of the office, holding his son’s limp body.
Adamson was charged with child abuse resulting in death and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after she admitted to providing marijuana to children.
Prosecutor Jeff Lindsey said in court during one of her hearings, “All of this points to recklessness.” She pleaded guilty to the charges against her two months ago. She was sentenced on December 1 to 24 years.
Mamas Uncut is THE online place for moms. We cover the latest about motherhood, parenting, and entertainment as well – all with a mom-focused twist. So if you're looking for parenting advice from real parents, we have plenty of it, all for moms from moms, and also experts. Because, at the end of the day, our mission is focused solely on empowering moms and moms-to-be with the knowledge and answers they’re looking for in one safe space.