Brothers charged after 5-year-old fatally shot himself, was left at hospital

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (WITI) -- Two Wisconsin brothers were charged Thursday in the death of 5-year-old Dakari Weldon, who accidentally shot himself Monday and died at a nearby hospital where two people dropped him off and left.

Javonn Cannon, 24, faces one count of homicide by negligent handling of a weapon, repeater, and one count of possession of THC, repeater. His brother, 24-year-old Jovonn Cannon, faces one count of leave/store loaded firearm near child.

Three adults (including the Cannon brothers) and three children were at the Kenosha home Monday when the shooting happened, according to a criminal complaint.

The older brother of the 5-year-old shooting told police he was in Jovonn Cannon's bedroom with the 5-year-old and the Cannon brothers, cleaning and moving stuff around the room. He said he saw Javonn Cannon load the gun and set it on the bed before the 5-year-old picked it up and began playing with it. The older brother said he told the 5-year-old to come watch TV, but he continued to play with the gun in the bedroom. He said the Cannon brothers were in the room when the 5-year-old played with the trigger and the weapon fired, hitting the boy.

"When the court read this criminal complaint, I assume that its reading was of heartbreaking stupidity for the two adults who have criminal liability in this case," Michael Graveley, Kenosha County district attorney said. "It appears that it was an accidental discharge of the weapon. An accidental death."

Javonn Cannon said his brother, Jovonn, kept a 9 mm pistol under his bed. The complaint said Javonn put the gun on the bed and left the room to smoke marijuana. When he returned, he saw the 5-year-old and his older brother alone in the room, and the 5-year-old had Jovonn's gun.

Javonn said he told the 5-year-old to stop and give him the gun, but said he wouldn't —putting the gun behind his back. Javonn said he then tried to take the gun away from the child. He said when he tried to snatch it from the boy, the gun went off. Javonn said he grabbed the gun and put it on the bed, and the 5-year-old began crying, with blood coming from his backside. It was determined the bullet entered the 5-year-old's abdomen and exited from his backside.

"He was in absolute shock when he heard the gun go off, and he had no idea that the gun was loaded," Javonn Cannon's attorney said.