The horror unfolded on Jan. 22 in their Latonia home, a quiet neighbourhood in Covington, when the eldest boy found an unsecured loaded firearm and tragically ended his younger brother’s life.
The parents, 23-year-old Selena Farrell and 21-year-old Tashaun Adams, were arrested on January 25, slapped with second-degree manslaughter charges. Farrell is also in the spotlight for possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, alongside other serious charges.
The scene described by authorities paints a picture of sheer negligence, with the fatal weapon being discovered discarded in an inconceivable hiding spot – amidst the remains of a barbecue on the stove.
The call to 911 by Adams, after stumbling upon the nightmarish scene of his son bleeding out, was too little too late. Young Khalil Adams was pronounced dead at a local hospital, leaving a community in mourning and sparking a fierce debate on gun safety in homes.
In a dramatic twist, it was revealed that Farrell, the gun’s owner, had purchased it legally before her felony conviction, only to flee post-tragedy. The fugitive pair was eventually tracked down to a Boone County hotel room, where they were found with a third suspect, 20-year-old Jeremiah Thomas, now charged with hindering prosecution.
At a press conference, Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders lamented the absence of any gun safety measures in the household, criticising the parents’ claim that the firearm was kept “for protection.” With Farrell pleading not guilty and the legal status of Adams yet unclear, this tragic story has ignited a firestorm of debate on parental responsibility and debate on the need for stringent gun safety laws.
