Jun 19, 2021

Murder charge: Toddlers found gun that killed Kansas girl

Posted Jun 19, 2021 2:00 AM
Yelverton photo Shawnee Co.
Yelverton photo Shawnee Co.

SHAWNEE COUNTY— Prosecutors have charged the owner of a gun found in a Topeka home by toddlers, who then accidentally shot a 13-year-old girl.

 Dejuan Thomas Yelverton, 22, Topeka, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child endangerment and criminal possession of a gun by a felon, according to Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay.

Yelverton owned the gun that was found by toddlers Saturday morning. As the children were handling the gun, it fired, hitting 13-year-old DaMya Hudnall in the back of the head. DaMay was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.

She died after being taken off life support Tuesday. Yelverton is being held in the Shawnee County Jail on $250,000 bond. Kagay requested a $1,000,000 bond. Yelverton is scheduled to appear at 3:30p.m. on June 24, 2021 for a scheduling conference in the case.