A nine-year-old boy is dead and his 18-year-old cousin has been arrested in an incident that Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says was a negligent, but accidental discharge of a firearm. Kamone Thomas has been charged with Negligent Homicide, Obstruction of Justice, and Possession of Marijuana. Lopinto says initially Thomas told investors his cousin had shot himself, but…
“Some things were not adding up in reference to the location of the ballistics of the bullet travel, in addition to the location of the gunshot to the head itself. It was very unlikely that he had shot himself.”
When confronted by the results from the coroner’s investigation of the shooting that indicated the nine-year-old could not have shot himself, Lopinto says Thomas admitted guilt, and said it was an accident that began with some horseplay.
“The nine-year-old was playing with the gun, and in a playful manner he was trying to disarm him of that gun. The gun ended up discharging at that time, striking his (nine-year-old) cousin in the head, which ended up being fatal.”
Lopinto says Thomas then told deputies that he panicked and hid the gun, but has allegedly revealed the location.
The Sheriff says it’s a tragic accident that could have been avoided had the weapon been properly secured and kept out of the hands of a young child.
“Let’s face it, we have a nine-year-old that is dead today because of actions of someone who does not secure a firearm. We know firearms do not go off automatically, it’s because it is negligence.”
Lopinto says authorities are confident the incident was not malicious, and was not sparked due to any conflict.
