Prosecutors have ruled the death of a 10-year-old boy who was shot in the neck inside his Lauderhill home as accidental. NBC6’s Niko Clemmons reports
Prosecutors have ruled the death of a 10-year-old boy who was shot in the neck inside his Lauderhill home as accidental.
A close-out memo from the Broward State Attorney's Office obtained by NBC6 on Tuesday stated that after a thorough review of the investigation, it was concluded that Mike Brenly Saint Jean's death was accidental in nature and no one will face charges for his death.
The family said in a statement through their attorney that they were "disappointed by the decision of the State Attorney’s Office not to prosecute those responsible."
"Nothing can relieve the family of the pain they struggle with every day since this tragedy occurred, but they will continue to pursue justice for Mike and ensure that those responsible are ultimately held accountable," the statement read, in part.
The Hurricane season is on. Our meteorologists are ready. Sign up for the NBC 6 Weather newsletter to get the latest forecast in your inbox.
Saint Jean was sitting in his living room on Nov. 14, 2023, when a stray bullet went through the wall and in and out of his neck. He died days later.
The bullet came from an apartment next door on Northwest 19th Street near 54th Avenue, Lauderhill Police said.
Local
In the closeout memo from the state attorney's office, a woman told detectives she moved her boyfriend's gun and "mistakenly picked it up with her finger inside the trigger guard, which resulted in the accidental firing of the gun."
"It is clear from the evidence gathered that there was not an intentional and criminal act that caused the death of Mike Saint Jean," the memo said.
The memo also said that while the man who left the gun in the home next door was not supposed to have a gun, he was charged for having it, but leaving it secure in a bag at his girlfriend's does not rise to the standard of culpable negligence.
The Broward State Attorney’s Office said in the memo “the elements of murder in the first and second degree are clearly not met and can be ruled out in this case” and “a criminal homicide charge could not be sustained in this case and it is the recommendation of the undersigned that no charged be filed.”
