Baby's dad did not call 911 after boy was killed from a gunshot wound

Yahoo

21-05-2025

LAFAYETTE, IN — Deonta Johnson found his 1-year-old son, Isaiah, dead in an upstairs bedroom on March 28, 2023, from a gunshot wound to the head and didn't even call 911.
He called Shatia Welch, the baby's mother, and she called 911, according to testimony Wednesday, May 21, in Johnson's neglect-resulting-in-death trial.
Isaiah's 5-year-old half-brother found Welch's handgun and accidentally fired it, killing Isaiah, according to prosecutors. Johnson told police he was asleep on the couch at the time.
He also told the first officer on scene that the baby died from a fall, not a gunshot. But evidence and a forensic autopsy concluded Isaiah died from a gunshot wound.
After Isaiah was killed, Johnson, now 29, is recorded on video apparently putting something inside the back seat area of a car parked outside of the Romney Meadows Apartment Homes. Police later found more than three-quarters of a pound of marijuana in a Ziplock bag and wrapped in a gray plastic shopping bag.
Police also located a bag of about 93 pills, which tested positive at the Indiana State Police lab for being fentanyl.
In addition to the neglect charges, including the charge that Johnson's alleged neglect resulted in death, prosecutors charged him with several drug charges, including dealing fentanyl and marijuana.
Jurors heard several pages of text messages and Facebook messages that prosecutors say indicate that Johnson was involved in dealing narcotics and marijuana, including a message in January 2023 that indicated four or five men robbed Johnson of his money from drug sales.
When court resumes in the afternoon May 21, prosecutors told the court they will play an audio recording of a phone call Johnson made from the jail, then they will rest their case.
Defense attorney Robert Hodges indicated they might call one witness.
Welch, who pleaded guilty in January to a lesser charge of neglect of a dependent, was brought back from an Indiana prison last week where she is serving a six-year sentence for her crime.
She might testify Wednesday afternoon, if she's called. Johnson also could testify, if he chooses.
This story will be updated later May 21.
Reach Ron Wilkins at [e-mail]. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette baby's dad did not call 911 after boy was killed