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Parent Charged with Felonies After Son Gets into Shoot-Out With Police at School

An Indiana woman has been charged with several felonies after her 14-year-old son reportedly brought a firearm obtained from her home to Dennis Intermediate School in Indiana, shot his way into that school, got into a shoot-out with police, and committed suicide on scene.

Holding parents accountable in this manner is a rare event in the United States and potentially precedent-setting.

According to USA Today, Prosecutor Mike Shipman filed seven charges against Mary York on October 11, 2019 as follows:

  • Dangerous control of a child for recklessly allowing her son to possess a handgun and rifle while aware there was a substantial risk of him committing a felony — murder or battery — and failing to make a reasonable effort to prevent the use of the firearms in the commission of a felony;

  • Neglect of a dependent by placing the dependent in a situation that endangers the dependent for failing to remove firearms from their...residence after her son threatened to kill students at Dennis and discharged a firearm inside her home;

  • Neglect of a dependent by depriving the dependent of necessary support for failing to remove a .45-caliber handgun from the home after her son threatened to kill students at Dennis;

  • Neglect of a dependent by depriving the dependent of necessary support for failing to provide counseling for her son because of his mental health issues;

  • Neglect of a dependent by depriving dependent of necessary support for failing to reasonably supervise her son;

  • Neglect of a dependent by placing the dependent in a situation that endangers the dependent for failing to ensure her son was taking prescribed medications; and

  • Criminal recklessness for recklessly or knowingly performing an act that created a substantial risk of bodily injury to Dennis students and staff because she allowed firearms in her residence after learning her son had threatened to kill students at Dennis and had discharged a handgun in her home.

  • SOURCE: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/10/20/mom-faces-felony-charges-after-son-brought-gunschool/4046413002

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