On October 14, 2023, Topeka police responded to reports of a shooting in the 400 block of NE Grattan Street in the Oakland neighborhood of northeast Topeka. Officers found 4-year-old Lawrencia Perez-Belair suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. She was transported to a local hospital where she later died from her injuries. Her mother, 24-year-old Mariann L. Belair of Topeka, was arrested and charged with Murder in the 1st degree and Aggravated Endangering a child.
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 KSNT article reports that "officers found a child who was suffering from a life threatening gunshot wound" and that "the child later died at a local hospital from sustained injuries." The Kansas Reflector article confirms: "a 4-year-old girl, Lawrencia Perez-Belair, was fatally shot in northeast Topeka."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The KSNT article states that "officers found a child who was suffering from a life threatening gunshot wound" and the Kansas Reflector piece states Lawrencia was "fatally shot." A gunshot wound constitutes an inflicted injury.
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 Kansas Reflector article explicitly states: "a 4-year-old girl, Lawrencia Perez-Belair, was fatally shot in northeast Topeka. Her mother was charged with her death." The KSNT article identifies the charged person as "24-year-old Mariann L. Belair of Topeka," whose surname matches the child's hyphenated last name (Perez-Belair), consistent with a biological mother.
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 KSNT article states: "24-year-old Mariann L. Belair of Topeka was taken to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Mariann Belair is charged with Murder in the 1st degree and Aggravated Endangering a child."
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
The KSNT article notes that in addition to Murder in the 1st degree, Mariann Belair was also charged with "Aggravated Endangering a child," which suggests the circumstances may have involved broader child endangerment beyond the shooting itself. The Kansas Reflector article also places this death in the context of a record-setting year of homicides in Topeka (32 in 2023, surpassing the prior record of 30 in 2017), noting that "Zoey is among the 10 children who were victims of homicide in 2023. That means that of the 32 victims so far, nearly 1 in 3 were children, an alarming statistic." This systemic context of an unusually high child homicide rate in Topeka in 2023 may be relevant to researchers.
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