A Michigan mom has pleaded guilty to a federal weapons charge more than six months after her son died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Emma Jane Huver, 26, was at a Sunoco gas station in Lansing on October 24 with her 2-year-old son, King Muhammad, and 44-year-old Avis Coward. While at the gas station, the toddler got ahold of the gun and accidentally shot himself in the head.
Both Huver and Coward are convicted felons, neither of whom could legally possess a weapon at the time of King’s death. In addition to the weapon charge, Huver faces several other charges, including involuntary manslaughter and child abuse, WLNS reported. Now, the mother must await her fate and a potentially lengthy prison sentence.
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The shooting occurred in the afternoon.
Per WLNS, the deadly shooting happened at the gas station around 3 p.m. According to court documents obtained by the station, Huver claimed she was with her son and Coward, but was not watching the toddler.
She reportedly told police, “After her friend, ‘Avis.’ got out of the car, her child got into the front seat. She said that she was on her phone and not paying attention when she heard an ‘explosion’ and saw that her child had shot himself in the head.”
Huver apparently grabbed the child.
Per MLive, surveillance from the scene shows the mother and son in a white GMC Yukon while Coward walks into the convenience store. After the shooting, Huver grabbed her son and got out of the car. The gun reportedly fell to the ground, and Huver handed the child to Coward.
He allegedly took the child inside and gave him to another adult before reportedly fleeing the scene. He was arrested later that day.
Coward reportedly made an incriminating phone call from jail.
MLive reported that he allegedly asked a man and woman to find his cellphone and gave them its location near a fence. The man reportedly located two guns, one of which they believe was the firearm the toddler shot himself with.
Coward faces charges of tampering with evidence.
MLive reported that Coward allegedly broke one of the vehicle’s windows to eliminate a bullet hole, grabbed the gun, and took off. Police reportedly found the Yukon the next day, but it had been destroyed by fire.
Coward was arrested and faces federal charges of a felon in possession of a firearm, conspiracy to tamper with evidence, and tampering.
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Huver could be in prison for a long time.
On the felony firearms charge alone, she faces up to 15 years in federal prison, MLive reported. It is possible her sentence could be reduced for cooperating with the investigation. She has pleaded guilty to the weapon charge and is scheduled for sentencing on September 16. Her next court date for the remaining charges, which include involuntary manslaughter and child abuse is unclear.
