NC parents plead guilty after 3-year-old killed in accidental shooting, court records show

MEBANE, N.C. (WGHP) — The Mebane parents of a boy who died in an accidental shooting pleaded guilty on July 3, according to court records.

Michael Ray Hatch, of Mebane, and Kaitlyn Elizabeth Hatch, of Mebane, were charged with one count of failing to store firearms to protect minors.

Their 3-year-old son was killed in May while at the park for his brother’s T-ball game in the area of West Lee Street and South First Street.

Police say the gun was not secured in a vehicle and accidentally went off.

During a hearing last week, they were given a prayer for judgment.

A Prayer for Judgement is often requested by the defendants and regularly called a “get out of jail free” card, but it’s more complicated than that.

In this case, it appears the Prayer for judgment is continued, and the parents have to pay $183 in court costs.