2-year-old boy died while in the car with his mother and his older sister after he grabbed the gun his mother kept in an unzipped purse and shot himself in the head; mother charged
Indiana – In a devastating incident that unfolded in Indianapolis, a 2-year-old boy lost his life after gaining access to a loaded handgun inside his mother’s purse and fatally shooting himself in the head. The boy’s 28-year-old mother, identified as K. Bickett, is now facing a felony charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a charge that could carry a 20- to 40-year prison sentence if she is convicted.
The shooting occurred on June 19, while Bickett was parked in a parking lot. According to police and court documents, the toddler was initially seated in a car seat but later managed to free himself and move to the front of the vehicle where his 9-year-old sister was sitting. Bickett was texting a friend and had her handgun stored in her unsecured purse, placed between the center console and her daughter.
As Bickett attempted to park, a gunshot rang out inside the car. The toddler had retrieved the firearm from the unzipped purse and accidentally discharged it, striking himself in the head. His mother immediately stopped the vehicle, opened the passenger door, and lifted her son out before calling 911. First responders rushed the boy to a children’s hospital, but his injuries were fatal. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Police recovered the firearm from the front driver’s side floorboard. The gun was found with a spent cartridge still in the chamber and a full magazine inside. Investigators also recovered a fired bullet from the rear passenger seat, consistent with the bullet path through the vehicle.
According to statements given to police, Bickett said she typically carries her gun in her purse when out in public and stores it in its original case at home. She admitted that she usually keeps her purse zipped, but believed it may have been unzipped that day. She also revealed that her purse was not on the floor as usual but on the passenger seat—within reach of both children. Her daughter told detectives that her brother had crawled into her lap before the gun went off. She was playing a game on her phone when she heard a loud sound and saw her brother fall. She later told officers that the purse was right next to her, confirming the proximity of the firearm to both children.
On September 5, a judge issued a no-contact order between Bickett and her daughter, who had witnessed the traumatic incident. The girl will remain in the custody of her grandmother until at least the next hearing scheduled for September 22, when the Department of Child Services will provide input on the situation. Bickett, visibly emotional in court, has not yet retained an attorney but said she plans to do so. For now, she is no longer allowed to live with her mother, who currently has custody of her daughter.
Prosecutors stressed the urgency of safe firearm storage, stating, “Until our state requires basic licensing and training for gun owners, families will remain at risk. Safe storage and responsible gun ownership are not optional — it’s a matter of life and death.” Bickett’s jury trial is scheduled to begin on November 18. As the case moves through the legal system, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of how one moment of negligence with a firearm can result in irreversible loss — and destroy a family in the process.
