In a tragic turn of events on a December afternoon, a young life was cut short in Little Rock, Arkansas. Two-year-old Neteliah A. Juniel, a Black female, died on December 10, 2020, from a gunshot wound she sustained inside her family's apartment. The incident, which authorities would later describe as an accidental shooting, unfolded just after 3 p.m. in the 100 block of Falcon Court.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene, they found young Neteliah had already succumbed to her injuries.
The investigation into the little girl's death quickly centered on her father, 22-year-old Detilian Juniel. Inside the home, investigators discovered the firearm that was involved in the shooting, as well as drugs. The circumstances led to Detilian Juniel's arrest. He was subsequently charged with negligent homicide, a charge that suggests a failure to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable person would have exercised under the same circumstances. In addition to the homicide charge, he also faced a charge for the simultaneous possession of a firearm and drugs.
The sound of the fatal gunshot reverberated beyond the walls of the Juniel's apartment, startling a neighbor, Denisha Milton. She recounted hearing a loud "boom" from the adjoining residence. To her horror, she later realized that the bullet had penetrated the shared wall, a chilling reminder of how close the tragedy could have struck her own family. While the police investigation continued to piece together the exact sequence of events, the central question of whether the child accidentally handled the gun or if another person pulled the trigger remained a focus for authorities. The death of Neteliah A. Juniel left a lasting scar on the community, a heart-wrenching illustration of the potential consequences when firearms and illicit substances are present in a home with young children.
