VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The mother of a child who suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound inside their home on Brush Creek Lane last week was denied bond in a Virginia Beach courtroom Tuesday morning.
Sheneka Warren-Boykins, 38, is facing charges of child abuse and leaving a loaded gun — endangering a minor. She appeared in court with the support of several family members.
Her attorney asked the court to allow her to travel between her home in Virginia Beach and businesses in Franklin as a condition of bond.
The attorney also noted that Warren-Boykins was cooperative with both police and Child Protective Services, and that the family had already created a safety plan that included having her four children stay with another relative.
Ultimately, the judge ruled against bond, citing a prior concealed weapon charge from 2019. He said he was concerned that Warren-Boykins wasn’t taking firearms safety seriously and posed a threat to the community.
The gunshot wound the child suffered was characterized as a “grazing wound” in court.
A criminal complaint describes the wound as “a severe laceration to his right eyebrow requiring stitches.”
“Sheneka was interviewed [by police] and stated she keeps a green Ruger 9mm in an unlocked dresser drawer in the master bedroom,” the document reads. “She keeps the magazine in the firearm fully loaded; however, does not keep a round in the chamber.”
The complaint also states that police interviewed her 6-year-old son, who told them he accidentally shot his 7-year-old brother with the gun.