Mother Charged In 6-Year-Old Son's Fatal Shooting

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Charges have now been filed against the mother of a 6-year-old, who was shot and killed by his older brother in West Mifflin last month.

Kayleigh Potter, 29, not only faces four counts of child endangerment, but also drug charges and lying on paperwork when she purchased the gun that killed her son.

Allegheny County Police spent much of Friday searching for Potter, and say they finally caught up to her just before midnight in West Mifflin. She was taken into custody without incident and is now being held in the Allegheny County Jail.

In addition to allegedly lying on the purchase forms for the gun, investigators say Potter is also accused of smoking marijuana every day.

According to the criminal complaint, neighbors told police that she often left her boys home alone in the family's house on Dover Lane while she worked or went to a bar. And while the boys were home, police say they had access to a loaded and unlocked .9mm Lugar.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala said the 10-year-old found the gun in his mother's purse on Aug. 9. Six-year-old Julian Hoffman was rushed to Children's Hospital after the shooting, but later died from his injuries.

"She has the gun in a purse, she goes to work, she leaves the purse in the car. The boyfriend takes the purse in the house. The 10-year-old finds the gun," Zappala said. "He discharges the weapon, and I think it's a single shot and the 6-year-old dies."

Zappala also spoke about the 10-year-old boy.

"We lost a 6-year-old. There's nothing we can do for him. Take care of the 10-year-old, get him out of the situation," Zappala said.