Vance County mother charged in child shooting
The mother of a 3-year-old boy who accidentally shot and killed his 5-year-old sister last month has been indicted on second-degree murder charges, according to court documents Vance County mother charged in child shooting obtained by The North Carolina News.
Morgan Nicole Deans, 24, was formally indicted by a Vance County grand jury last week. A warrant for her arrest was issued on March 25, and on today, March 31, she was taken into custody and booked into the Vance County Jail, where she is currently being held under a $500,000 bond.
The tragic incident occurred on February 28, 2025, on Gary Street in Henderson, following a report of a shooting around 9:30 a.m. 5-year-old Avah Gracelynn Bullock was fatally shot by her 3-year-old brother, Waylon Lee. Authorities say the boy found a loaded, unsecured firearm inside the family’s home. While playing with the gun, it accidentally discharged, striking and killing Avah.
Although the full circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, court records show that prior to her murder indictment, Deans had also been charged with selling or giving a weapon to a minor. She was given a $5,000 unsecured bond for that charge.
North Carolina Mother Charged After 3-Year-Old Son Fatally Shoots 5-Year-Old Daughter in Henderson
Deans is expected to appear in court on April 22, 2025 for the second-degree murder charge. As of now, she remains in custody.
