An Ohio mother is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter after her 3-year-old son accidentally shot himself with an unsecured firearm while she was asleep. Carley Dials, 29, was released on bond on Tuesday following her arrest the previous day. The tragic incident occurred when her son, Cartier Smith, accessed a gun allegedly brought into the home by 31-year-old Sean Perrin.
The Columbus Division of Police responded to a distress call made by Dials on Monday morning. Upon arrival, they discovered the young boy with a gunshot wound. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Court records obtained from local CBS affiliate WBNS reveal that Perrin had left the apartment before the police arrived. As the investigation unfolded, it was discovered that Perrin had allegedly brought the firearm to Dials’ residence.
During her interview with the police, Dials admitted to discovering the gun before retiring to bed around 3 a.m. on Monday. She claimed to have hidden the firearm between her bed’s mattress and the wall before falling asleep.
The fatal incident occurred hours later, just before 9 a.m., when Cartier entered the room where his mother and Perrin were sleeping. The toddler found the hidden gun, climbed onto the bed, and accidentally shot himself. Dials immediately dialed 911, while Perrin reportedly fled the scene. Cartier was transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries less than an hour later.
WBNS reported that another child was taken into the custody of Franklin County Children’s Services following the incident.
Perrin, who had a previous arrest in March for violating his parole related to a 2019 gun charges conviction, was later apprehended by the police. He was charged with possession of a weapon under disability and parole violation. He is currently being held at the James A. Karnes Correction Center on a $750,000 bond.
Dials was charged with involuntary manslaughter and was held at the Franklin County Jail. Her bond was set at $50,000, which she posted on Tuesday after her court appearance. Both Dials and Perrin are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 2.