Grandmother gets probation in shooting death of grandson

YOUNGSTOWN — Pamela Easterly has been sentenced to five years’ probation on a child-endangering charge in connection with the discharge of a gun in her apartment that killed her 4-year-old grandson, Raytwon Briggs.

Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court imposed the sentence today on Easterly, 52, of Fairgreen Avenue, who was convicted of the third-degree felony charge in a nonjury trial in November.

The grand jury indictment said Easterly failed to properly supervise children in her care and created a risk to their safety that resulted in Raytwon’s death from a gunshot wound to the head.

There were three loaded handguns and there was another child in the bedroom where Raytwon died.

Police were called to the apartment just before 11 p.m. July 8, 2013, where Easterly told them her grandson had shot himself.

Police found Raytwon lying on his back on a bed with a bullet wound to the eye and said they believe the shooting was accidental.

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com