INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — A young mother is facing criminal charges and has temporarily lost custody of her surviving child after her 4-year-old son, Javarius Bicket, tragically shot and killed himself with her handgun earlier this summer.
On Friday, September 5, 28-year-old Keiara Bicket appeared in court, where a judge ruled that she will not be allowed to have contact with her 9-year-old daughter until further review. The girl will remain in the care of her grandmother until a custody hearing scheduled for September 22. The decision came after emotional testimony and legal arguments about Keiara’s judgment and responsibility on the day of the shooting.
The tragedy unfolded on June 19 in the parking lot of a CVS near East 46th Street and Keystone Avenue. According to court documents, Keiara had been driving with both of her children in the car. Javarius was supposed to be secured in his car seat, but at some point he climbed into the front of the vehicle where his sister was also seated.
Keiara told investigators that she stopped at a gas station before heading to CVS to pick up a prescription. When the drive-thru was closed, she parked and began texting a friend. Moments later, she heard a single gunshot. Turning to her son, she saw Javarius slump to the floorboard after firing a round from her own firearm, which had been left accessible inside the car.
Panicked, Keiara grabbed her son and called 911. First responders rushed Javarius to Riley Hospital for Children, but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office later filed charges against Keiara, citing negligence in storing her firearm and failing to secure her children properly while driving. Authorities emphasized that while the shooting was accidental, the circumstances that allowed a young child to access a loaded weapon were preventable.
During Friday’s custody hearing, Keiara broke down in tears as the judge delivered the ruling regarding her daughter. For now, all parental contact has been suspended, though the court left the door open for reevaluation later this month.
The case has sparked renewed conversations in Indianapolis about child safety, gun storage, and parental responsibility. Advocates stress the importance of keeping firearms locked and out of reach of children, pointing to tragedies like Javarius’s death as stark reminders of the risks.
As the legal process moves forward, the Bicket family is left to mourn the loss of Javarius while navigating the difficult road ahead for his mother and sister.
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