Five-year-old Adaun Gaines was fatally shot in the chest by a 6-year-old child who was playing with an unattended 9mm firearm found in a bedroom of a home in Jennings, Louisiana. The victim was one of five children, ages 3 to 6, who had been left unsupervised by their caretaker, Desome T. Lee Daniels, 26, who was absent at the time of the shooting. A neighbor heard the shots and called police, who arrived to find Daniels back in the home and under the influence of drugs. Daniels had hidden the gun under the porch. Gaines was transported to the hospital, where he later died. Both Daniels and Kurstin Richard, the mother of one of the children and owner of the home, were arrested and charged with principal to negligent homicide among other charges.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The news article explicitly describes a firearm incident: "the unattended children found the 9mm gun in a bedroom and were playing with it when it discharged, shooting Gaines in the chest." The victim, a 5-year-old, "was shot in the chest by a 6-year-old playing with an unattended gun."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The news article explicitly describes inappropriate supervision. The victim "was one of five children, ranging in age from 3-6 years old, who were left alone with a gun in the house." The caretaker, Desome T. Lee Daniels, "was gone at the time of the shooting." Daniels was charged with "five counts of improper supervision of a minor."
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article states "Kurstin Richard, the mother of one of the children, in whose home the incident took place, was charged with principle to negligent homicide and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon." A biological mother was charged in connection with this child's death. It is unclear whether she is specifically the victim's biological mother, but she is a biological mother of at least one of the children present and was charged in relation to this death.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
The news article describes Desome T. Lee Daniels as "the person who was supposed to be watching the children." This indicates a babysitter or caretaker role. Daniels was charged with multiple counts related to the incident, including "principal to negligent homicide" and "five counts of improper supervision of a minor."
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The news article states that Desome T. Lee Daniels "was arrested and charged with being a principal to negligent homicide" along with multiple other charges. Kurstin Richard was also "charged with principle to negligent homicide and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The news article states that Kurstin Richard was charged with "possession of a firearm by a convicted felon." The phrase "convicted felon" implies a prior criminal conviction that predates the current fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The news article states that when police arrived, they "found Daniels in the house, under the influence of drugs." Daniels was also charged with "five counts of drugs in the presence of minors." This is an explicit reference to substance use by the caregiver.
Notable Details
The news article includes several notable details: (1) The firearm was stolen, as Daniels was charged with "possession of a stolen firearm." (2) Daniels attempted to obstruct justice by hiding the gun after the shooting: "Daniels was aware of the incident, and had stashed the gun under the house's porch," resulting in "two counts of obstruction of justice." (3) Five children aged 3-6 were left entirely unsupervised with an accessible firearm in the home.
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