Mother of 8-year-old who accidentally shot himself charged with manslaughter
Dec 5, 2024, 6:46 PM | Updated: Dec 6, 2024, 4:01 pm
A minor was hospitalized Monday night following an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound. (Andrew Adams/KSL TV)
(Andrew Adams/KSL TV)
LEHI, Utah — The mother of an 8-year-old boy who died from an accidental gunshot wound after being left alone in her car parked by a Lehi Maverick store has been charged.
According to the charging documents, Jennifer Marie Pu’u is facing two criminal charges. One for manslaughter and another for abuse or neglect of a child with a disability.
The Lehi Police Department‘s probable cause statement says Pu’u had a .380 M&P Shield pistol in her car. The weapon was loaded and unsecured.
“Within about two minutes of the defendant’s leaving the minivan, the child got ahold of the weapon and it accidentally discharged. The bullet struck the child in the head and killed him.”
According to Pu’u’s ex-husband, who is the child’s father, Pu’u has frequently left guns “laying around.”
Additionally, a behavioral therapist who worked with the boy had seen him play with toy guns with his siblings, “having no concept of the danger a real gun presented.” The therapist saw two occasions of unsecured hand guns while teaching him daily life skills at Pu’u’s home.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
