Overview
- A 2-year-old boy died after accidentally shooting himself inside a Pullman home, and officers recovered a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun with a laser sight on a bedroom closet shelf.
- Police arrested 31-year-old Johnny Hughes, the child's mother's boyfriend, and charged him with child endangerment and multiple weapons offenses related to the death.
- Charging documents allege Hughes left the loaded gun accessible to the toddler and told officers the weapon was purchased by those in the home.
- Investigators say Hughes is a convicted felon who lacked a FOID card and a concealed-carry permit and failed to register as a gun offender as required by city rules.
- A judge ordered Hughes held in jail pending trial and the case is continuing, raising questions about how unsecured firearms and illegal possession contribute to child injuries and local enforcement priorities.