In the summer of 2023, a heartbreaking incident unfolded in an Indianapolis apartment, forever altering the lives of a young family. Four-year-old Deor Neita, a little girl, lost her life on July 5th in what was a tragic and entirely preventable event. The day began like any other, with Deor and her siblings under the care of their great-grandmother.
While playing in an upstairs room of their Cumberland home, the children discovered a loaded handgun.
The firearm, which had been left unsecured in a dresser drawer, was picked up by Deor's five-year-old brother. In a moment of childish curiosity, unaware of the devastating power he held, the boy pulled the trigger. A single shot was fired, striking Deor in the head. Despite the swift arrival of emergency responders, the injuries were too severe, and the young girl was pronounced dead at the scene. The great-grandmother, who was downstairs at the time, was left to confront the horrific aftermath.
In the wake of the tragedy, investigators focused on the ownership and accessibility of the firearm. Their investigation led them to Terrelle Shawn Jackson, a 25-year-old man who was residing in the home at the time. It was determined that the handgun belonged to Jackson and that he had failed to secure it, leaving it within reach of the children. Compounding the negligence, it was discovered that Jackson was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm at the time of the incident.
Two months after the fatal shooting, on September 8, 2023, Terrelle Jackson was apprehended by the Cumberland Metropolitan Police Department. He was subsequently charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a serious felony. The charges stemmed from his alleged failure to secure the loaded firearm in a home with six young children, an act of negligence that directly contributed to the death of Deor Neita. Following his arrest, Jackson was incarcerated in Marion County. He later pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released after posting a $100,000 bond. His case is scheduled to proceed with a pre-trial hearing set for January 23, 2024.
