Ohio Mother Charged After 3-Year-Old Fatally Shoots Himself With Unsecured Gun
COLUMBUS, OH — A 3-year-old boy fatally shot himself inside his family’s apartment after gaining access to an unsecured firearm early Monday, prompting charges against both his mother and a man who allegedly brought the weapon into the home.
Child Found With Gunshot Wound
Police say the incident occurred on September 22 when Cartier Smith, 3, discovered a gun inside his mother’s apartment. Officers responded after his mother, Carley Dials, 29, placed a 911 call.
Cartier was rushed to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in critical condition but died less than an hour later from his injuries.
How the Gun Was Left in the Home
Investigators determined that Sean Perrin, 31, had allegedly brought the gun to the apartment earlier that night.
According to court records, Dials told police she noticed the weapon before going to bed around 3 a.m. She said she tried to hide it between her mattress and the wall before falling asleep.
Hours later, Cartier entered the bedroom where Dials and Perrin were sleeping, climbed onto the bed, and unintentionally shot himself.
Suspect Left Before Police Arrived
Authorities said Perrin left the apartment before police arrived.
He was later arrested and charged with having a weapon under disability and parole violation tied to a prior 2019 gun conviction. He remains in custody at the James A. Karnes Correction Center on $750,000 bond.
Mother Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter
Dials was arrested on involuntary manslaughter charges and booked into the Franklin County Jail.
Her bond was set at $50,000, which she posted on Tuesday after her first court appearance.
An older child in the home was placed in the custody of Franklin County Children’s Services.
Court Proceedings Ahead
Both Dials and Perrin are scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on October 2.
The case has drawn community attention in Columbus, underscoring the risks posed by unsecured firearms in homes with children.
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