November 19, 2018

Action Alert:
Call for Charges Against Father Whose Gun Killed Toddler Son


At about noon on November 15, 2018, Johnathan Butler, 31,  and his wife Naterika Pearman, 24, decided to take naps in separate rooms at their home in Jonesboro, Georgia—leaving their two year-old son totally unattended.

As Butler slept, his two year-old son walked into the room, crept into the bed with his father, and found a loaded handgun under a pillow. Puling the gun out, the boy fired one round, severely wounding himself. He was in cardiac arrest at the scene and declared dead at a hospital a short time later.

Clayton County Police and the local district attorney have yet to arrest and charge the boy’s father for the killing. A police spokesman described the death as “an unfortunate, devastating situation,” but suggested no course of action to prevent these shootings in the future.

Please contact Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts and District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson through the channels below and give them the following message (personalized to your liking):

Please bring charges against Johnathan Butler, the 31 year-old father whose negligence contributed directly to the shooting death of his two year-old son on November 15, 2018. I can’t think of anything more dangerous and irresponsible than leaving your toddler unattended while you sleep with a loaded, unsecured gun on your bed. These so-called “accidental” shootings HAVE to end and the ONLY way they will end is when negligent adults start getting charged EACH AND EVERY TIME they do this. Bring charges of reckless endangerment and/or involuntary manslaughter against Johnathan Butler immediately and do justice by this little boy and so many other children who are no longer with us. NO MORE coddling reckless gun owners! I will be watching your actions closely.

Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts
Phone: (770) 477-3601
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaytonCountyPD/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/claytoncountypd

District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson
Phone: (770) 477-3450
Email: erman.tanjuatco@claytoncountyga.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaytonCountyDistrictAttorney
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/grahamlawson_da

Once you contacted Chief Roberts and DA Lawson, fill out the three fields below and click the orange button to report taking action!


This is an action alert, NOT an online petition. Please take the action before filling out the fields below.

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