In a tragic incident that took place on April 1 in Garfield Township, Michigan, a 5-year-old boy, Braxton Dykstra, was shot and killed by a young relative. The aftermath has revealed a harrowing environment of gun negligence, now leading to felony charges against the grandparents. Karl and Theresa Robart, who are expected to easily be among the first charged under Michigan's new safe firearms storage law, find themselves grappling with the legal consequences of having multiple unsecured firearms in their home, as reported by WZZM13.
The revelation comes from court documents, which detailed that not only was the fatal 12-gauge shotgun owned by the Robarts left unsecured, but additional guns were found scattered throughout the residence—an inexcusably loaded pistol was tucked in a dresser drawer alarmingly near where children would likely and regularly play. This setup failed to adhere to laws necessitating unattended firearms to be unloaded and securely locked away, especially with children expected to be present, FOX 17 reports.
According to the prosecuting attorney's statement published by PEOPLE, both Karl and Theresa Robart have been charged with one felony count of Firearms – Safe Storage Violation – with a minor present. The charges follow the unfortunate course of events when Braxton's cousin, a 6-year-old boy, retrieved the shotgun that the Robarts had left behind a bedroom door. All the while, Braxton was simply sitting on the floor, consuming a snack, and watching a movie.
As the family now mourns the loss of Braxton, who is remembered for his love of biking and spending time with family, his father has been pushing for "Braxton's Law," aiming to ensure the tragedy that befell his son doesn’t repeat itself. "My main goal right now is to obviously stop this from happening again," Domynic Dykstra told WZZM13. Holding firm to his belief, Dykstra has voiced that the mother of the 6-year-old should likewise face charges. "Her child took a life and there should be no reason that she gets to go scot-free," he said.
The legal process for the Robarts is unfolding, with a bond set at $50,000 for both grandparents and court appearances scheduled for the coming weeks. Each pleaded not guilty to the felony firearms safe storage violations. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison. Amid the technicalities of law and order, a family is broken, perhaps irreparably, by an incessant echo of a 'loud bang' that silenced their joy, as reported by FOX 17.
