A Florida resident, C.J. Nelson Jr., 21, admitted his guilt this week in connection with the fatal shooting of an 18-month-old toddler. The case, which has been shrouded in allegations of a subsequent cover-up, saw Nelson plead guilty to a single count of manslaughter with a firearm, as per Flagler County court documents.
The tragic incident unfolded over Labor Day weekend in 2023, when a distressing 911 call reported a toddler had been shot in the head. The shooting occurred shortly before midnight at a rented property on Ranwood Lane in Palm Coast, a mid-sized city within the Daytona Beach metropolitan area. The child was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
At the time of the incident, eight adults were present, including the child’s biological mother. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has suggested that the crime scene was tampered with and evidence was likely disposed of and cleaned up. The Sheriff, Rick Staly, expressed frustration at the lack of truthfulness from those present during the shooting.
Staly confirmed that the child did not handle the firearm, identified as an “American Tactical multi-caliber assault pistol.” The child’s biological father was not present at the scene.
Nelson’s plea agreement leaves the case in a state of uncertainty and closure. The document indicates that Nelson is pleading guilty, but also includes a no contest plea. A sentencing hearing is yet to be scheduled. Nelson’s plea is open, meaning there was no agreement between the prosecution and defense regarding leniency in sentencing. The final decision will rest solely with the presiding judge.
Further complicating the case is the involvement of Nelson’s father, C.J. Nelson Sr., 46. He was charged in January 2024 with two counts each of tampering with evidence and providing false information to law enforcement. The case has since moved slowly.
The Sheriff identified Nelson Sr. as the alleged orchestrator of the cover-up following the shooting. He is accused of instructing others on how to stage the scene, handling the firearm used in the shooting to remove fingerprints, and instructing witnesses to provide an alibi for himself and his son. Nelson Sr. is also alleged to have instructed his son to shower at a different location while other family members were at the hospital where the child died.