On January 27, 2024, 23-month-old DaiLoni Edward Hollis Daniels died from a gunshot wound to the head while visiting his father, Travell Daniels, at the father's home on Shawnee Drive in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The child normally lived with his mother. After the mother dropped the child off around 4:30 p.m., the father placed the child in his bed to nap. The father had placed a loaded Glock 23 either under the mattress or under the pillow of the same bed. The father went downstairs, and approximately 7 to 10 minutes later, he heard a loud bang. He returned upstairs and found the child with a gunshot wound, with the gun on the floor by the bed. The child was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. The Allen County Coroner ruled the death a homicide. The father was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death and was ultimately sentenced to 20 years in prison after accepting a plea agreement.
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 fatality report (Document 1) states the child "died from a gunshot wound" and that "The father stated he kept his loaded firearm under the mattress of the bed the child had been lying on." The vital records document (Document 2) lists the cause of death as "GUNSHOT WOUND OF HEAD" with ICD-10 code X95. Multiple news articles corroborate this, with Document 4 specifying the weapon was a "Glock 23."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report states: "The father placed the child in the father's bed to take a nap. The father went downstairs, and approximately ten minutes later, he heard a bang." The father left a 23-month-old unsupervised in a bedroom where a loaded firearm was accessible. The father was charged and sentenced for neglect of a dependent resulting in death, which reflects the inadequate supervision. Document 4 confirms the father "placed a Glock 23 underneath his pillow that afternoon" and then left the child alone in the room.
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?
The fatality report identifies "Perpetrator: Father." News articles identify the father as Travell Daniels, and Document 5 states he is the child's father: "A 30-year-old Fort Wayne father was sentenced Monday in connection with his 1-year-old son shooting and killing himself." The child shares the father's surname (Daniels), confirming a biological relationship.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
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 fatality report states "Criminal charges: Yes." Document 3 reports "The child's father, 29-year-old Travell Daniels, was charged with neglect of a dependent causing death." Document 5 confirms he was sentenced: "Travell Daniels was sentenced to 20 years in prison for neglect of a dependent resulting in death."
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?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
There is a notable discrepancy between sources regarding where the gun was stored: the DCS fatality report states the father "kept his loaded firearm under the mattress of the bed," while news articles (Documents 3 and 4) report it was placed "under a pillow." Additionally, Document 4 reveals that four people were in the home at the time of the incident — the father, Alexis Smith, and two other young children (ages 1 and 5) — providing context about the household that the DCS report does not mention. The father was ultimately sentenced to 20 years in prison after accepting a plea agreement with a 25-year sentencing cap (Document 5).
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