"Oh, a flashlight." Those were the final words spoken by 4-year-old Charlie Stanley before an unsecured handgun went off in his hands at an apartment complex in North Manchester, Indiana, killing him, according to court records and police affidavits.
Background
The tragic incident occurred on May 30, 2025, at an apartment complex on Clear Creek Trail when officers responded to reports of a shooting. Investigators later learned that Charlie was playing with items on a bedside table while a family member watched him and his younger brother. The family member was changing the younger child's diaper when she heard Charlie utter those words, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by WPTA.
When she turned around, she saw Charlie holding what appeared to be a firearm. The gun discharged, striking him in the torso. He was pronounced dead on scene.
The weapon used was a Canik 9mm handgun belonging to his father, Nathan Stanley. According to police records, Nathan had gone shooting five days before Charlie's death and left the 9mm unsecured on the bedside table along with two other handguns, a shotgun, and a rifle—all stored outside of a safe.
This occurred despite Nathan having previously agreed to a child safety plan established through the Department of Child Services regarding the importance of securing weapons in the home. Court documents indicate Mikayla Stanley told investigators she was "always getting onto Nathan about locking his guns up."
The Investigation
Nathan Stanley, 27, and Mikayla Stanley, 26, were both charged with neglect of a dependent in connection with their son's death. According to Wabash County court records, Nathan pleaded guilty to the charge and appeared before a judge on Friday for sentencing.
The court sentenced Nathan Stanley to 23 years in prison with three years suspended, resulting in an effective sentence of 20 years behind bars. He is now incarcerated at the Indiana Department of Correction.
Mikayla Stanley remains free on bond and is scheduled to go on trial next month on her own neglect charge. She told investigators upon arriving home that she instantly suspected the shooting involved one of her husband's firearms, stating he was "always leaving them out."
Key Takeaways
- Charlie Stanley, 4, died after finding an unsecured Canik 9mm handgun on a bedside table at his family's apartment in North Manchester, Indiana
- His last words were "Oh, a flashlight" before the gun accidentally discharged, striking him in the torso
- His father Nathan had left multiple firearms—including the 9mm used in the incident—outside a safe despite agreeing to a child safety plan with DCS
- Nathan Stanley pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent and was sentenced to 23 years with three suspended
- Mikayla Stanley faces her own neglect charge and is scheduled for trial next month
What's Next
Mikayla Stanley's trial on charges of neglect of a dependent is expected to proceed next month in Wabash County. Court records do not indicate whether she has entered a plea in that matter. The Department of Child Services' prior involvement with the family, including the safety plan regarding firearm storage, may become a point of focus during proceedings.