A 22-year-old Lansing man has been charged after a 4-year-old girl died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a home last week, an incident prosecutors said stemmed from a firearm that was not stored properly during the Jan. 21 shooting on Sadie Court.
Officials said the case underscores Michigan’s safe-storage law now being tested in court. Prosecutors identified the defendant as Maliki Pendergrass and alleged he illegally possessed the handgun and failed to secure it, allowing the child to access it. First responders attempted life-saving measures but pronounced the girl dead at the scene. Pendergrass was ordered held on a $1 million bond and is due back in court on Feb. 6. Investigators are still clarifying the relationship between the man and the child as charging documents move through Ingham County District Court.
Police and fire crews were dispatched to the 3400 block of Sadie Court shortly before midday Jan. 21 on reports of a shooting involving a child. When officers arrived, they found the 4-year-old with a gunshot wound to the head and started CPR as medics moved equipment into the home. Despite resuscitation efforts, the girl was declared dead at the scene. Detectives secured the residence, collected the firearm and photographed the room where the shooting occurred. Neighbors watched patrol cars and an ambulance line the block as crime-scene tape went up across a small cul-de-sac.
Ingham County Prosecutor John J. Dewane said the death “would not have occurred had the firearm been safely stored,” describing the incident as completely preventable. Charges filed include a safe-storage violation resulting in death, felon in possession of a firearm and related counts. Court records note Pendergrass has a prior armed-robbery conviction that bars him from legally owning a gun. Prosecutors also filed notices reserving the right to seek sentencing enhancements if warranted. The child’s name has not been released publicly pending family notifications and standard reviews by the medical examiner.
Michigan lawmakers enacted criminal penalties for failing to secure firearms when minors are present, part of a broader package passed in 2023. Prosecutors in recent cases have used the statute alongside traditional child-abuse and weapons charges when young children access guns in homes and vehicles. Lansing police said the weapon in this case was obtained from inside the residence; investigators are reviewing how it was stored, whether a locking device was present and who last handled the gun before the shooting. Authorities have not detailed the caliber or make, and have not alleged that anyone else fired a shot.
Officers canvassed Sadie Court through the afternoon, speaking with neighbors and collecting any doorbell-camera footage that might show people entering or leaving before the 911 call. Forensic technicians processed the firearm for prints and DNA and documented any ammunition and accessories nearby. The medical examiner will finalize autopsy and toxicology reports in the coming weeks. Police said there is no indication of an intruder or other suspect, and they are not seeking additional persons of interest. The house remained taped off for several hours while evidence markers were placed and photographed.
Court filings reviewed by local outlets list a $1 million bond and standard conditions that bar Pendergrass from possessing weapons or contacting certain witnesses if released. A probable-cause conference is scheduled for Feb. 6, followed by a preliminary examination if the case proceeds. Defense counsel has not made a detailed public statement. Prosecutors said they would continue to consult with the child’s family as the case advances and that additional counts could be considered after lab results return. If bound over, the case would move to Ingham County Circuit Court for arraignment on an information.
Residents on the quiet block described sirens and a rush of cruisers just before noon on Jan. 21, followed by a long period of silence as investigators worked inside. A small memorial appeared near the curb by sunset, with flowers and a stuffed animal tucked beside a tree. One neighbor said families on the street have checked on one another in the days since. Lansing Fire Department personnel who responded remained at the scene for hours, rotating crews as detectives photographed rooms and collected items for evidence.
As of Monday, the defendant remained jailed in Ingham County on the $1 million bond. The prosecutor’s office said the next update will likely come after the Feb. 6 court date, when attorneys will outline discovery and any plea discussions on the record.
Author note: Last updated January 27, 2026.