Child, 5, Fatally Shoots Himself Inside Wayne County Home: Police

WESTLAND, MI — A couple is facing charges after their 5-year-old son fatally shot himself with an unsecured gun inside a Westland home last week, according to police.

The incident happened at 8:40 p.m. last Thursday inside a home in the 33000 block of Alamo Court block where the child grabbed an unsecured gun and shot himself, according to police.

The child was taken to Corewell Wayne Hospital and died, according to police.

Timithy Gravel, 32, and Heather LeBlanc, 29, were each charged with one felony count each of a safe storage firearms violation. Their next court date is scheduled for Nov. 21.

They were both placed in jail and given a bond: $50,000 for Gravel and $25,000 for LeBlanc. If either of them posts bond, they must wear GPS tether. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.

"The Westland Police Department implores all firearm owners to store their firearms responsibly and inaccessible to children to prevent further tragedies of this nature," Westland Police Deputy Chief Robert Wilkie said in a news release.