Police: Father charged after 4-year-old boy dies from gunshot wound in southeast Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A 4-year-old boy was shot and killed Wednesday night in southeast Charlotte, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says.

Officers say the boy’s father, Dayshawn Warren, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and give/sell a weapon to a minor Thursday morning.

The child’s mother identified the child to WBTV as Demario Warren. He was taken to an area hospital and later died from his injuries.

“If you have a gun, put it up. it’s a safety, put the safety on it, put it up and teach them to don’t touch it,” Demario’s mother, Brandi Parham, said..

Officers first sent a message on Twitter and said the shooting was self-inflicted but during a news conference Wednesday night, investigators walked that message back.

“We are still in the middle of an investigation and there are some things we need to be certain of. I hate to use the word ‘walkback,’ but we really need to make sure that we have the right frame of reference,” Major Cecil Brisbon with CMPD told reporters at a press conference last night.

Parham told WBTV her son was at his father’s home at the time, and that she wasn’t there when it happened.

“He loved his siblings; him and his brother was like best friends. They did everything together,” Parham said to describe Demario.

“Anytime a young person, a toddler loses their life, that means somebody’s light has been forever extinguished and they don’t get opportunities to see things that we enjoy,” said Brisbon. “If you have children, take care of them, hold them close, keep them dear.”

Warren is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning.

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