AURORA | A 17-year-old boy whose 10-year-old brother was fatally shot last week in north Aurora was formally charged with negligent child abuse Thursday, June 9, prosecutors said.
Jalecc Celanco Taylor was also charged with a misdemeanor count of being a juvenile is possession of a handgun. Taylor appeared in court Thursday where he was advised of the charges against him.
Taylor’s brother, Anthony “Jaliel” Hemmings, died June 3 in a shooting at his family’s home near East Colfax Avenue and Galena Street.
Police have not confirmed details about the shooting, but the family and community leaders said at the time that the boy died after he accidentally shot himself.
Taylor, who turns 18 this month, is being charged as a juvenile and Sue Lindsay, a spokeswoman for the Adams County district attorney’s office, said there are no plans to move the case to adult court. Lindsay said that because the case is in juvenile court, documents will not be available to the public.
Taylor is due in court again in July.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story initially stated that Hemmings’ shooting was accidental and self-inflicted, based on what family members said at a June 6 vigil. An Adams County Coroner’s Office report released June 9 contradicts the family’s claim, saying the shooting was not self-inflicted.