A Florida mom was arrested after her 4-year-old son got hold of her loaded gun and shot his 5-year-old sister while she was sleeping.
Ashley Marie Hosendove was charged with aggravated manslaughter and culpable negligence following the death of her daughter, Ja’nova Raylani, in Florida City.
Authorities reported to her home shortly before 2 a.m. on June 10 after they received a call about a shooting. Upon their arrival, police found Hosendove, 32, carrying her daughter, who was “wrapped in a blood-soaked blanket,” according to Law & Crime. The girl had been shot on her right arm and torso.
Hosendove and the girl got in the patrol car and were rushed to a hospital. During the ride, the mother told police that she believed her son had shot Ja’nova.
Ja’nova was ultimately airlifted to a hospital for treatment, where she later died.
While speaking to police, Hosendove allegedly said that she arrived home around 10 p.m. with a black fanny pack, which held a Remington 9 mm gun. She said she put the fanny pack in a bedroom closet before she fell asleep while watching TV.
Hosendove added that she later woke up when she heard a gunshot, and she found her daughter walking out of the bedroom with a gunshot wound soon after.
The defendant told detectives that her son saw the gun in her purse about one week before the incident and “showed interest” in the weapon, even “calling the victim to see it.” Hosendove said she then decided to move the gun from her purse to the fanny pack, per the outlet.
In addition to acknowledging that the gun was loaded, Hosendove told authorities that the mechanical safety on the gun allegedly did not work.
Following an investigation, detectives determined that Hosendove had a “conscious indifference of the welfare of her children” by not properly storing the gun in a safe place.
She was then arrested and taken to the Miami-Dade Jail. She is currently being held without bond, while her next court date is scheduled to take place on September 11.
It’s not currently clear if Hosendove has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office had no immediate updates to share when contacted by Us about the case.
Following Ja’nova’s death, her loved ones shared insight into who she was in a GoFundMe fundraiser.
“At just 5 years old, she brought so much love, laughter, and light into the lives of everyone who knew her. Ja’nova was a smart, sassy, and beautiful little girl with a personality that could brighten any room,” the page’s description read. “She loved to play, laugh, and spend time with her family. Her smile was contagious, her spirit was unforgettable, and her love touched so many lives in such a short time.”
