In Covington, Kentucky, a shooting incident has led to the arrest and charging of Selena Farrell, 23, and Tashaun Adams, 21. 

The couple is facing charges of second-degree manslaughter following the fatal shooting of their two-year-old son, Khalil Adams, by his three-year-old brother. 

The shooting occurred on January 22, 2024, at around 12:44 p.m. in their apartment in the 2500 block of Warren Street, near Holmes High School. 

During a Friday press conference, Kenton County prosecutor Rob Sanders detailed how the tragedy happened. 

Authorities responded to the Covington apartment on a Monday afternoon after reports of a shooting. 

The toddler was found with a gunshot wound and taken to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, located across the Ohio River, but was pronounced dead. The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office later identified the child.

According to police, the gun, with a loaded round in the chamber, was kept in a dresser drawer in the living room, within reach of the three-year-old. Sanders said, “This shooting death was caused by the fact that two adults left this gun with a loaded round in the chamber around a three-year-old they did not supervise.”

This tragic incident, as described by the authorities, could have been avoided had the weapon been stored safely. 

During the press conference, Sanders emphasized that the core issue was not the law but the parenting. 

Sanders also pointed out that the charges against Farrell and Adams are significant, as it’s unusual for second-degree manslaughter to be applied in such cases in Kentucky. The law defines this charge as wantonly causing the death of another person. 

Farrell, who had an existing warrant for her arrest and was on probation, fled the scene before police arrived. 

She was later found hiding in a hotel room in Boone County on Thursday, January 25, 2024, along with Adams and another person, Jeremiah Thomas, 20. 

Farrell has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and abandonment. These charges were supplemented by an initial charge of probation violation. She was identified as the owner of the gun, reportedly purchased before her felony conviction, and she claimed that it was kept for safety. She told police that she ran off so as not to miss her son’s funeral, even though Khalil was not dead at that point.

The father of the child, Tashaun Adams, 21, faces charges of second-degree manslaughter and hindering apprehension. According to Kenton County jail records, he is being held at the Boone County Detention Center. Adams’ charge of hindering apprehension is linked to his role in assisting Farrell to evade law enforcement following the incident.

Jeremiah Thomas, 20, from Elsmere, has also been charged with hindering apprehension. Thomas was present at the residence during the shooting and fled before the arrival of the police.

During a court appearance, Farrell pleaded not guilty to the charges. Adams is yet to enter a plea. 

This case will be presented to a grand jury, which may consider different charges before it proceeds to circuit court.