A Father’s Failure, A Child’s Death”: Lafayette Man Sentenced After 5-Year-Old Fatally Shoots Baby Brother
LAFAYETTE, IND. — A tragedy that shattered a family and horrified a community reached a grim conclusion in court this week, as Deonta Johnson, a Lafayette father, was sentenced to 32 years in prison, followed by eight years of probation, for a devastating act of neglect that led to the death of his 1-year-old son at the hands of his 5-year-old child.
In 2023, officers responded to a chilling scene inside a Lafayette apartment. A 1-year-old boy was found dead, shot with a firearm that investigators say had been left within reach of a child. That child — just 5 years old — had unknowingly pulled the trigger, ending his baby brother’s life in a tragedy that shook Indiana to its core.
What investigators uncovered next painted a haunting picture of neglect, drug activity, and a complete failure of parental responsibility.
Following a **three-day trial in May**, Johnson was found **guilty on multiple counts**:
* Four counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death
* Two counts of dealing narcotics
* One count each of conspiracy to deal marijuana, dealing marijuana, possession of marijuana, obstruction of justice, and misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia
Court documents revealed that after the shooting, Johnson was seen on surveillance video leaving the apartment and placing a bag in a car. A subsequent search found **marijuana inside**. Police also discovered a locked gun safe under a bed, but another gun — the one used in the shooting — was found loaded in a dresser drawer**, unsecured and within a child’s reach.
Perhaps even more disturbing, toxicology reports showed marijuana in the bloodstream of the 1-year-old, and cocaine in the hair of the 5-year-old. The environment these children lived in was not only unsafe — it was toxic and life-threatening.
During sentencing, the court also ruled that Johnson can have no future contact with his surviving son, the 5-year-old who now must live with the unbearable weight of what happened — not because of his actions, but because of the environment he was forced to grow up in.
The mother, Shatia Welch, was also sentenced earlier this year to six years in prison, two years in community corrections, and four years of probation after pleading guilty to neglect resulting in serious bodily injury.
This wasn’t just a tragic accident — it was a systemic failure of care, protection, and love. Two children, both under 6 years old, were exposed to drugs, loaded weapons, and a life far removed from the innocence they deserved.
The death of the 1-year-old is a heartbreaking reminder that guns and drugs in the home — combined with negligence — can lead to irreversible, soul-crushing loss.
May that innocent baby rest in peace. May his brother find healing in a safer future. And may this story be a wake-up call for every household: protect your children before it’s too late.
