The mother of a 13-year-old mentally disabled boy remained in jail Wednesday, one day after the boy accidentally shot himself.
Shallon Sales was charged with aggravated child neglect and has a $50,000 bond set. But her family says she is a good mom and will learn from the near-tragedy.
Sales’ niece, Sherrice Brown, said the boy was left alone for only about 20 minutes while his mother went to buy school clothes.
Shallon Sales
Chattanooga police officers stand outside of a Hughes Avenue home on Tuesday after responding to a call for a 13-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the arm.Family members said the bullet shattered in the boy’s arm. He was treated and released from the hospital and his arm is in a cast, the family said.
Brown said the family nickname for Sales is “Care Bear.” She said Sales has custody of a 2-year-old, not her biological child, who functions well and is potty-trained.