Source: Milwaukee Police
A Milwaukee father, Michael Anthony Huddleston, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon after shooting his daughter, Tiana Huddleston, while allegedly doing a gun safety demonstration.
WJDT reported that Tiana was shot in the chest at her family’s home near 18th St. and Highland Ave. on Jan. 15. Her 18-year-old brother, who was present with several other siblings, called 911 just before 2:30 p.m. while Michael rushed his daughter to the hospital. The little girl was pronounced dead at the hospital.
A criminal complaint indicated that the 47-year-old father allegedly told authorities he accidentally fired his gun as he tried to teach his children about gun safety. He said he made a mistake and that Tiana was “at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
He also alleged that he shouldn’t have “showed off” his firearm, which he claimed was empty and had the safety on, to a group of kids.
“I’m about to go, and then I’m showing off for the kids. I never leave without it,” he said. “Shouldn’t have tried to do no extra in front of the kids…I did it…I didn’t try to, big mistake.”
On Jan. 16, police conducted an in-custody interview with Michael, and he reportedly told them that he had consumed multiple pints of tequila the day before. Then, he said, when he heard children making noise in the kitchen, he decided to grab his gun and give a tutorial on gun safety. He claimed that’s when he picked up his weapon, removed the magazine, and shot Tiana.
When authorities searched his home, they found two bottles of tequila and a .22 caliber pistol.
Michael was on probation in Milwaukee County for a felony hit-and-run conviction during the shooting incident. As such, he was prohibited from drinking alcohol and possessing a gun.
Tiana’s aunt, LaToya Singleton, created a GoFundMe page to raise money for her funeral costs, food, and clothing. She was supposed to celebrate her ninth birthday on Feb. 16, 2022. So far, all $8,003 of Singleton’s $8395 goal has been reached.
Tiana’s death is a painful reminder of the numerous Black children who die from gunshots. Last month, on Christmas day, a Memphis boy named Artemis Rayford was killed by a stray bullet following a letter he penned to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee about gun laws. The 12-year-old wrote the letter in response to the state’s law that enables one to carry a gun without a permit.
“I am a sixth-grader at Sherwood Middle School, and it is my opinion that this new law will be bad, and people will be murdered,” the letter said.
Unfortunately, his statement came to life in his home in Orange Mount, where his grandmother, Joyce Newson, said he was playing with his Christmas gifts when a spray of bullets hit the house. She said Rayford died as his mother held him in her arms.
Like Tiana, Rayford was an innocent life taken too soon. On Jan. 18, a candlelight vigil with candles, balloons, and flowers was held outside Tiana’s home.