What to Know
- A 5-year-old boy accidentally shot his young brother with his mother's gun
- The 4-year-old victim died hours after the shooting
- His mother is charged with a weapons violation and endangering the welfare of a child
The mother of a 4-year-old boy who was accidentally shot and killed by his 5-year-old brother as the older boy played with a gun in their New Jersey home wept in court as she pleaded not guilty to child endangerment and other charges.
Wearing a pink jumpsuit, Itiyanah Spruill, 22, looked woefully at the ceiling, crying, during her arraignment Tuesday. She did not speak, nor did relatives.
Spruill's attorney asked if her client could attend the funeral for her son, who underwent surgery for a head wound after being shot by his brother Saturday.
Authorities say the gun belonged to Spruill, who was home at the time of the shooting. It's not clear how the child got hold of the weapon.
A judge will decide later this week if Spruill can attend her son's funeral.
