Michael Tolbert: Father first to be charged under new gun law after 2-year-old daughter shoots herself

FLINT, MICHIGAN: Michael Tolbert, a 44-year-old Michigan father and felon, is the first person to be charged under the state's newly implemented "safe storage" gun law.

This comes after his 2-year-old daughter, Skye McBride, accidentally shot herself with a loaded revolver found alongside a semi-automatic pistol in their home.

Police find tragic evidence of unsecured firearms in home with no safety measures

Tolbert now faces a series of charges, including those related to the "safe storage" law that was enacted just a day before the shooting. The incident unfolded on Valentine's Day, prompting the father to rush Skye to a Flint hospital, where she remains in critical condition.

Upon obtaining a warrant for their home, law enforcement discovered distressing evidence in a bedroom adjacent to a child-size folding chair. Two firearms, a revolver, and a semi-automatic pistol, were found on the bed, both unsecured and loaded with live ammunition.

There were no gun locks or safes in the front bedroom, raising concerns about the lack of proper firearm storage.

Doctors fear for toddler's vision

A single shot from the revolver pierced the ceiling, unintentionally causing an injury to the young girl. Medical professionals have expressed concerns about potential damage to her right eye, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said.

As the family grapples with the aftermath of this event, Skye's aunt, LaDorothy Griggs, describes her as the "most happy, funny, beautiful, loving, and sweetest" girl who is “fighting, so very hard for her life.”

Michael Tolbert faces an array of charges under Michigan's 'Safe Storage' law

Tolbert has been arraigned on multiple charges, including lying to a police officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and first-degree child abuse, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

This case marks the first application of Michigan's "safe storage" law, requiring gun owners to store unattended firearms unloaded and locked if there is a reasonable expectation that a child could access the weapons, according to Detroit News.

Democratic state Sen Kristen McDonald-Rivet, a co-sponsor of the new legislation, emphasized that this case highlights the importance of holding irresponsible gun owners accountable.

“I did not ever dream that within days of the law going into effect, we would need it, but here we are,” she claimed.

Penalties for violations range from just over three months in jail to up to 15 years in state prison, depending on how the accessed gun is used.