Lansing man convicted in connection with accidental shooting of 2-year-old

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A man has been convicted of illegal gun possession in connection with the accidental death of a 2-year-old in Lansing last year.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office – Western District of Michigan (DOJ), the child accidentally shot himself in a vehicle at a gas station on October 24, 2023.

Three people have been charged in connection with the incident, including the child's mother, 26-year-old Emma Huver.

Federal prosecutors said Huver pleaded guilty earlier this year to possession of a weapon as a felon. She was sentenced to five years in prison.

The Department of Justice tells us that 44-year-old Avis Coward, a convicted felon, also pleaded guilty to illegal possession of two weapons.

“This two-year-old child is dead because Avis Coward broke the law,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “This case painfully highlights a grim statistic that hangs over the nation: gun violence is now the leading cause of death for our youngest Americans ages 0 to 19. None of us should get used to this new reality. My team and I will use every tool at our disposal to punish criminals who put our children in danger.”

According to the DOJ, Coward will spend 10 years behind bars.

We were informed that a third suspect in the case, Gina Schieberl, pleaded guilty to evidence tampering. Her sentencing hearing is expected to take place on October 21.

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