In a quiet apartment in northeast Las Vegas, the life of a two-year-old Black / African American boy named Messiah Logan was tragically cut short on May 30, 2018. That morning, Messiah was in a bedroom with four other young boys, all under the age of 12, when a 9mm handgun was discharged. The bullet struck the young child in the forehead, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.
The boy’s mother was in another room at the time of the incident.
Initial police reports suggested that a 10-year-old boy who may have brought the gun to the apartment accidentally shot Messiah. However, the toddler's mother, Ashley Slack, and her family disputed this account. She stated that her five-year-old son witnessed Messiah accidentally shooting himself. Amid the conflicting stories, investigators worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. The Clark County coroner's office later ruled the death an accident, caused by a gunshot wound to the head.
The day after the shooting, Messiah's 26-year-old father, Michael Logan, was arrested in connection with his son's death. He was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon, child abuse or neglect resulting in substantial bodily harm, and being a prohibited person in possession of a gun. Michael Logan told police he was sleeping when the shot was fired and tried to help his son after being woken by the sound. He and the boy's mother initially claimed the gun did not belong to him.
Ultimately, the involuntary manslaughter charge against Michael Logan was dropped in early June 2018. He later reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, pleading guilty to child abuse and ownership of a gun by a prohibited person. For these charges, he was sentenced to serve one to five years in High Desert State Prison. Investigators also considered the possibility that there was an effort to remove the gun from the home before police arrived, and that other adults could potentially face charges.
