CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A Clarksville man has been indicted on charges of criminally negligent homicide and aggravated child abuse after he left a gun unsecured, resulting in the death of a 21-month-old toddler in February.
Julian Chester, 32, was indicted during the October term of the Montgomery County Grand Jury on charges of aggravated child abuse, neglect and endangerment of a child less than 8 years old and criminally negligent homicide.
On Feb. 17 around 10 p.m., police officers responded to a residence on Pembroke Road about a child that had been shot.
Officers located 21-month-old Briareus Thomas inside with a gunshot wound. He was transported to Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville, where he died as a result of his injuries.
The initial investigation revealed that a handgun was left loaded and unsecured, with three children under the age of 4 living there, according to police. One of the children got the gun, resulting in the 2-year-old’s death.
The lead investigator on the case is Detective Benjamin Goble.