KOKOMO, IN – A 21-year-old Indiana man faces homicide charges after his wife was fatally shot while holding their one-month-old baby, who was also wounded in the incident, according to court records.
Cameron E. Tomlinson was arrested and charged with one count of reckless homicide and two counts of criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon in connection with the death of Jessica M. Tomlinson, 21, police said.
Officers responded to a shooting report at an apartment complex in the 400 block of West Lincoln Road around 7 p.m. on Feb. 24, according to the Kokomo Police Department. Tomlinson initially told dispatchers his wife had suffered “a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
First responders found Jessica Tomlinson on the floor with an upper torso wound, police said. The newborn suffered a gunshot wound to the hand “resulting in significant trauma,” according to the police report.
Jessica Tomlinson was pronounced dead at the scene despite lifesaving efforts by medics. The infant was transported to Community Howard Regional Health Hospital before being taken to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis for specialized treatment.
Court documents obtained by Indianapolis Fox affiliate WXIN revealed details of Cameron Tomlinson’s changing account to investigators. He initially claimed his wife was handling the firearm and accidentally shot herself while holding the baby.
According to the documents, Cameron Tomlinson told detectives the couple was preparing for a night out when Jessica insisted he take a revolver because it “went well with his outfit.” He claimed she retrieved the gun from a safe while holding the baby, and that the hammer was cocked when she returned holding the firearm by the barrel.
When pressed by investigators, Cameron Tomlinson reportedly changed his story, saying he “didn’t like” how she was holding the gun by the barrel and reached out to grab the revolver from her. The gun discharged during the struggle, striking Jessica Tomlinson, he told police.
“I was not sure if I pulled the trigger, but I must have,” Cameron Tomlinson reportedly told investigators, adding “to sum it up, that means I shot her,” according to court documents.
Cameron Tomlinson is being held in the Howard County Jail on $15,000 cash-only bond. A judge ordered him to have no contact with the baby. He is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial conference on May 20, records show.
