A Florida mother has been charged with aggravated manslaughter and culpable negligence after authorities say her 4-year-old son accidentally shot and killed his 5-year-old sister with a loaded handgun he found in a fanny pack while she was sleeping on the couch.
Ashley Marie Hosendove, 32, is accused of failing to properly secure the weapon before her young son gained access to it inside their Florida City home near Miami on June 10, police said.
Background
According to investigators, Hosendove returned home around 10 p.m. on June 9 with a black fanny pack containing a Remington 9mm pistol that she placed in a bedroom closet before falling asleep while watching television with her children present in the house.
Miami-Dade police responded shortly before 2 a.m. on June 10 to reports of a shooting at a residence on the 1400 block of NW 1st Court in Florida City.
When officers arrived, they found Hosendove carrying her daughter wrapped in a blood-soaked blanket. Authorities placed both Hosendove and the injured girl into a patrol car and rushed them to a hospital.
During transport, Hosendove told police she believed her 4-year-old son had shot Ja'nova Raylani, who suffered gunshot wounds to her right arm and torso.
The child was later airlifted to another medical facility where she died from her injuries.
The Investigation
Detectives learned that approximately one week before the shooting, Hosendove's son had discovered the firearm in her purse and "showed interest, calling the victim to see it," according to an arrest affidavit. Hosendove subsequently moved the weapon—from a purse where it allegedly always remained loaded with a round chambered—to the fanny pack.
Hosendove also reportedly told investigators that the mechanical safety on the gun did not function properly.
Following her arrest and receipt of Miranda rights, Hosendove provided an interview to police in which she acknowledged hearing a gunshot and subsequently seeing her daughter emerge from the bedroom wounded.
Miami-Dade prosecutors determined that Hosendove displayed "conscious indifference to the welfare of her children" by failing to properly secure the firearm. She was taken into custody and transported to Miami-Dade Jail, where she remains held without bond.
Key Takeaways
- Ashley Marie Hosendove, 32, has been charged with aggravated manslaughter and culpable negligence in connection with her daughter's death
- Police say Hosendove left a loaded Remington 9mm pistol accessible inside a fanny pack while sleeping as her young children were present
- The victim's family described Ja'nova Raylani as a "smart, sassy, and beautiful little girl" who brought joy to everyone around her
- Detectives say Hosendove's 4-year-old son had previously shown interest in the firearm about a week earlier when he discovered it in his mother's purse
- The weapon allegedly had a malfunctioning mechanical safety and was always kept loaded with a round chambered, according to investigators
What's Next
Hosendove is scheduled to appear in Miami-Dade County court on September 11 for her next scheduled hearing. She continues to be held without bond at Miami-Dade Jail as the case proceeds through the criminal justice system.
A GoFundMe campaign established by family members has been created to assist with funeral expenses and memorial costs for Ja'nova Raylani.