September 18, 2018

Action Alert:
Thank Alabama L.E. for Bringing Charges Against Negligent Gun-Owning Parent


On September 17, 2018 Letroy Cole, Jr., a  “small student” in the second grade at Blossomwood Elementary School in Huntsville, Alabama, brought a handgun to school. During P.E. class, he decided to show it off to some of his fellow students in the gymnasium bathroom. As he was handing the loaded gun to another second-grader, it went off, shooting him in the hand. 

A second-grade class at Blossomwood Elementary School

Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene immediately along with the Huntsville Police. Remarkably, Letroy was not seriously injured and is OK.

It was quickly determind the handgun used in the shooting was taken from Letroy Jr.’s home and owned by his father, Letroy Cole. Despite this fact, Tim Gann, Madison County’s chief trial attorney, told local media he was “not aware of any Alabama law under which the parents could be prosecuted.” “For the parents to be charged, they would have to actually be (involved in the shooting),” he claimed, wrongly.

After a fierce response from the public, law enforcement changed course. Just after noon EST on September 18, Huntsville Police arrested Letroy Cole.

Please contact Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray and District Attorney Melvin Lockett, Jr. through one of the channels below with the following message (personalized to your liking):

Thank you for arresting Letroy Cole and charging him with receiving stolen property and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. I am so grateful that his son, Letroy Cole, Jr., was not seriously injured when his father’s handgun went off at school. I appreciate you investigating how this second-grader obtained the handgun in question in an expeditious manner. It is critical that law enforcement stands for the safety and well-being of children in the Huntsville community when they are threatened by parental negligence regarding the storage of firearms. You did right by Letroy Cole, Jr. in this case and protected him. Please continue to be a champion for vulnerable children in all future cases. 

Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray
Phone: (256) 427-7001
Email: policechief@huntsvilleal.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvillePoliceDepartment/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hsvpolice

Madison County District Attorney Melvin Lockett, Jr.
Phone: (256) 532-3460

Once you have contacted chief McMurray and district attorney Lockett, fill out the three fields below and click the orange banner 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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