TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man will stand trial for murder after a toddler used a gun to accidentally kill a teenager in June.
Shawnee County District Judge David Debenham ruled Monday that prosecutors had enough evidence to try 22-year-old DeJuan Yelverton for first-degree murder and armed criminal action.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Yelverton pleaded not guilty to the two charges. He pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon by a felon. Prosecutors allege Yelverton left a gun hanging off the top of a refrigerator. A toddler later got the loaded gun and accidentally shot 13-year-old DaMya Hudnall in the head. She died a few days later.
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SHAWNEE COUNTY— Prosecutors have charged the owner of a gun found in a Topeka home by toddlers, who then accidentally shot a 13-year-old girl.
Dejuan Thomas Yelverton, 22, Topeka, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child endangerment and criminal possession of a gun by a felon, according to Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay.
Yelverton owned the gun that was found by toddlers Saturday morning. As the children were handling the gun, it fired, hitting 13-year-old DaMya Hudnall in the back of the head. DaMay was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
She died after being taken off life support Tuesday. Yelverton is being held in the Shawnee County Jail on $250,000 bond. Kagay requested a $1,000,000 bond. Yelverton is scheduled to appear at 3:30p.m. on June 24, 2021 for a scheduling conference in the case.