Overview
- Tonya Charisse-Annice Johnson, 41, is charged with safe-storage violations, three counts of second-degree child abuse and four counts of felony firearm.
- Police say Johnson left five children, ages 2 to 11, in a minivan at a Harper and Gratiot plaza on March 2 when an 11-year-old found an unsecured handgun and shot his 6-year-old sister, who later died.
- At Thursday’s arraignment, Johnson entered a not guilty plea, was granted a $30,000 cash surety bond and was ordered to have no contact with her children.
- Investigators told the court they found other unsecured firearms during a search, alleging a pattern of failing to secure weapons; Johnson holds a concealed pistol license.
- Michigan’s safe-storage law requires unattended guns to be unloaded and locked when minors may be present, with violations that cause harm punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines.