An investigation revealed that the 12-year-old likely shot himself accidentally while his brother was in another room.
EDMOND, Okla. — A mother and Brother have been charged in connection with the death of 12-year-old Millwood student Tyler Taffe in September.
Taffe, a student at Millwood Arts Academy, died from a gunshot wound on September 28 at a home in Edmond.
Earlier this month, authorities revealed that when Edmond police arrived at the scene, a woman, visibly distressed, came out of the house. Later identified as Taffe’s mother, she was soon joined by his older brother outside. Police entered the home and found Taffe with a gunshot wound. They performed CPR until emergency medical personnel arrived, but he was later pronounced dead.
The investigation indicated that Taffe likely accidentally shot himself while his brother was in another room.
An affidavit revealed that Taffe’s mother, Kershena Cotton, told investigators she and two others, including Taffe’s 18-year-old brother Logan Walker, went to a gun range in Oklahoma City on September 10. She claimed there was no ammunition at home and that they did not bring any back from the range.
Cotton also stated that she checked to ensure the guns and magazines were empty and instructed Walker to take the gun and magazines to her safe. However, Walker later admitted to keeping extra ammunition from the range in his pocket and loading one of the magazines with an unspecified number of rounds when they returned home.
According to the affidavit, Walker didn’t recall Cotton telling him to put the gun in the safe and instead left it on his bedside table. The gun remained there until the accidental shooting occurred.
Court records show that both Cotton and Walker have been charged with child neglect. Authorities allege they left a loaded handgun within reach of Taffe, leading to the tragedy.