An Alabama mother, Joli Erin Reid, has been accused of accidentally shooting her toddler. The 33-year-old mother of two was arrested on a first-degree assault charge on April 15, 2025, shortly after the incident occurred, according to NBC 15 News. Reid’s 1-year-old daughter was found with a gunshot graze to her arm, though according to the news outlet, it was not life-threatening.
Reid is a mom of two, and it’s unclear what kind of a firearm was used in the shooting. Thus far, she hasn’t been convicted of any crime relating to the shooting. Reid was arrested upon officers’ arrival at her home and taken to Mobile County Metro Jail, per NBC 15 News.
The toddler was not seriously injured in the shooting.
Mobile Police Department officers arrived at Reid’s home in the early hours of the morning on April 15. Although officials did not release what they believe happened or how the accidental shooting might have occurred, Blake Brown, public information officer for the Mobile Police Department, shared a statement with AL.com.
“This is still an active investigation and we don’t have anything further to release just yet,” Brown shared, following the incident and Reid’s arrest. “This is all we know at this time.”
According to Reid’s Facebook account, she is a mom to two girls. On April 14, she shared a post that read, “Until you stay home with your babies 24/7 everyday you don’t know how important a break is & to feel appreciated.” Reid responded to the post with “facts.”
The mom’s friends and family are defending her on social media.
A close friend of Reid’s, whose name on Facebook is Dee Bee, shared a post about Reid following her arrest after the incident.
“If you know JOLI really really reallllly know JOLI u know she love and live for her girls she would never ever everrrr purposely hurt or harm Rae or Rhy! Ever!” she wrote. “She cook clean and mom day in and day out BY HERSELF! Shes a d— good mama! So if u don’t know her character and her personally u should just stfu! And that bs a– mugshot stop playing on my girl mf top Erin Reid.”
Under the post, other people commented to share their prayers and positive words about Reid. And, most agreed, the shooting and Reid’s arrest may be some kind of misunderstanding. Another commenter, Nicole Alex, wrote that she is Reid’s cousin and shared her own post declaring Reid’s innocence.
“My cousin would never hurt her child bra let alone leave her for dead rs y’all say anything kno the facts first I love you baby them books gone be straight an I’ll be at every court date,” she wrote on Facebook. “I got you like you’ve always had me I’m crying so bad cause this hurt me more then anything in life my baby innocent ik she is I got you NOOBIE FREE Erin Reid”
At this time, there are no updates about Reid, though according to officials, her daughter’s gunshot graze was not serious.
