The Children

Khalil Adams

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STATE INFO

CANDID ID: KY_24_2109

AGE

2 years

STATE

Kentucky

DATE OF DEATH

1/22/2024

MEDIA

wcpo.com

DEATH RECORDS

Not Available

STATE REPORTS

Not Available

SUMMARY OF DEATH

Two-year-old Khalil Adams was shot in the chest and killed in Covington, Kentucky on January 22, 2024, while his parents, Tashaun Adams (21) and Selena Farrell (23), were sleeping in the living room. A loaded handgun with a round in the chamber had been left within reach of the couple's two young children. The 3-year-old sibling told a forensic interviewer that he had shot his younger brother. The father's handgun was found discarded in barbecue on the stove. The child was rushed to Cincinnati Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Both parents were charged with second-degree manslaughter; the mother also faced charges of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and abandonment of a minor after she fled the scene before police arrived and never went to the hospital. The Commonwealth's Attorney noted this was a novel legal case in Kentucky with no existing case law on charging parents who fail to secure firearms from children.

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?

Both documents describe the child's death as resulting from a gunshot wound. Document 1 states: "a loaded handgun was left within reach of their two young children, resulting in their child's death." Document 2 identifies the victim as a "2-year-old shot to death in Covington."

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

Document 1 quotes Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders: "It was caused by the fact that two adults left a loaded handgun with a round in the chamber in reach of a 3-year-old who they did not supervise." Additionally, the father told police "he and his child's mother ... were sleeping in their living room when they woke up to the sound of a gunshot," indicating the children were unsupervised.

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?

Document 1 identifies Tashaun Adams as the father and states the gun found at the scene was "Adams' handgun." He is charged with second-degree manslaughter and hindering apprehension. The text refers to Adams as the father and Khalil as "his 2-year-old son."

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Document 1 identifies Selena Farrell as the child's mother and states she is "charged with second-degree manslaughter, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and abandonment of a minor." She originally purchased the gun and gave it to Adams. Document 1 states: "The parents of the 2-year-old shot and killed in Covington have been charged with manslaughter."

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?

Document 1 states: "A forensic interviewer asked the 3-year-old who shot his younger brother, and he responded, 'Me.'" The 3-year-old sibling is identified as Adams' other son. The 3-year-old also told officers at the scene, "Daddy's gun is in a drawer."

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?

Document 1 states: "The parents of the 2-year-old shot and killed in Covington have been charged with manslaughter." Tashaun Adams is charged with "second-degree manslaughter and hindering apprehension," and Selena Farrell is charged with "second-degree manslaughter, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and abandonment of a minor."

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?

Document 1 states that Selena Farrell was charged with "possession of a handgun by a convicted felon," indicating a prior felony conviction. The document also notes she was on probation at the time and "was taken into police custody on Thursday for violating her probation." Additionally, "She bought it from a federally-licensed seller, which Sanders said likely means it was purchased before Farrell was charged and convicted of a felony." Her felony conviction and probation status clearly predate this incident.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Notable Details

Document 1 contains several notable details: (1) The Commonwealth's Attorney stated there is no existing case law in Kentucky for charging a parent who failed to secure a loaded handgun from a child: "There is no reported case law in Kentucky on charging a parent who failed to secure a loaded handgun from a 3-year-old child ... This is a novel charge." (2) Sanders plans to present more intensive charges, including murder, to the grand jury to let them determine appropriate charges. (3) The father's gun was found "discarded in some barbecue on the stove," suggesting possible evidence tampering, and a third party (Jeremiah Thomas) was charged with hindering apprehension. (4) The mother fled before police arrived and never went to the hospital, and was charged with abandonment of a minor in addition to manslaughter.