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April Gaskins, 54, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of reckless endangerment and firearm access by a minor after her 9-year-old grandson pulled the trigger and shot the bullet that killed Strawder in August last year.
On Aug. 6, 2022, prosecutors said that members of the Baltimore Police Department were called to the 600 block of Linnard Street to investigate a shooting, where they found Strawder suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
The girl was rushed by first responders to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she later died from the injury.
The investigation determined that a group of minors were sitting on the front porch of a home when a 9-year-old boy began showing off a gun that discharged, striking Strawder.
He then dropped the weapon and ran away.
The handgun was recovered by investigators and found to be registered to Gaskins, who was the shooter's grandmother and guardian. She confirmed that the weapon was hers and that she stored it in a bedroom closet the child had access to.
According to a GoFundMe that was created in the wake of Strawder's death, she was killed "defending her younger brother on the front porch of the home" when she was shot in the head.
"I hope this sentence makes it clear that in the City of Baltimore, we are holding everyone accountable for their role in proliferating violence, especially violence against our children,” Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said. “Responsible gun ownership can be a matter of life or death for parents and guardians.
"This case shows the deadly aftermath when people are careless with firearms," he continued. "I hope the Strawder family finds healing in today’s sentence.”
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