Mother, Brother of Liquarry Jefferson Charged With His Death

The DA's office announced that 31-year-old Lakeisha Gadson and her son, 16-year-old Jayquan McConnico, were indicted for manslaughter following the June incident in which Gadson's other son, 8-year-old Liquarry Jefferson, was shot to death by his 7-year-old cousin with McConnico's gun.

Liquarry Jefferson's death stunned the city, and not only because of the age of the victim. In constantly changing stories, Gadson and McConnico told police that strangers broke into the home, and Jefferson was shot.

The charges against Gadson are particularly long: "involuntary manslaughter, wantonly or recklessly permitting substantial bodily injury to a child, child endangerment, improper storage of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, and misleading a police officer." DA Dan Conley said in a statement that Gadson and McConnico were "utterly derelict in their duties" to the child. Back in June, public opinion was leaning toward arresting McConnico for the crime.

The cloud of violence hasn't left Liquarry Jefferson's extended family since his death. The mother of his 7-year-old cousin, Antonia Gadson, faced two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm last October.

All charges alleged until proven under law.