Topline: The district attorney said the shooting occurred while several children were left unattended in a room where loaded guns were within reach.
Published: January 13, 2026 8:08 am ET
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Evelyn Etress (via Blount County Sheriff's Office)
BLOUNT COUNTY, AL — The mother of a 2-year-old boy who was fatally shot inside a Blount County home is now facing multiple felony charges, as investigators continue to piece together what authorities believe was an accidental shooting involving unsecured firearms.
According to Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey, Evelyn Leyva Etress has been charged with aggravated child abuse and reckless manslaughter in connection with the death of her son, Noah.
WVTM reported that a $90,000 bond was set on those charges. Court records also show Etress is charged with possession or receipt of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, with an additional $17,500 bond set, according to WVTM and WABM.
As of Saturday morning, the Blount County Jail website listed Etress as having been “released to street,” WVTM reported.
Authorities said the shooting occurred Wednesday morning at a home on Orchard Circle near Hayden. The Blount County Sheriff’s Department and Hayden Police were called to the residence around 10 a.m., according to WBRC.
District Attorney Casey said Etress told investigators she was making tea and had left the children unattended in the home’s master bedroom. According to Casey, Etress reported hearing a loud noise and then seeing children running from a bedroom closet before discovering Noah bleeding and a handgun on the floor, WVTM and WABM reported.
“I don’t think there was any intent that the 2-year-old would die,” Casey said, according to WVTM.
Investigators do not believe the gunshot wound was self-inflicted, Casey confirmed, according to WABM and WBRC. Sheriff Mark Moon said during a news conference that the shooting is believed to have been accidental and that the investigation remains ongoing.
Multiple children were inside the home at the time of the shooting. According to WVTM, Noah’s siblings included two 4-year-old girls, a 9-year-old and a 13-year-old. Five children are now in the custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources, with Noah being the youngest, WVTM reported.
Authorities said several firearms were accessible to children inside the home. Sheriff Moon stated that at least three unsecured long guns were found that were not involved in the shooting, with one weapon taken from the residence, according to WVTM. Casey later said there were at least four, and possibly five, loaded firearms in the home where children had easy access to them, WABM reported.
“The public record that we saw filed in this with the sheriff’s office, there were at least four, if not five firearms that were loaded in that home where the children had easy access to,” Casey said, according to WABM.
WBRC reported that there were six firearms in the house, four of which were loaded and within reach of the children.
The child was taken to Children’s of Alabama after being shot but later died, according to WBRC.
Casey also addressed the status of the children’s father, saying he is a convicted felon who received a pardon about a year ago that restored his firearm rights. The father has not been charged in the case at this time, according to WVTM and WBRC.
During a news conference, Casey urged parents to take precautions with firearms in the home. “Parents, take a moment tonight…evaluate what you have and where it is,” she said. “We can do that and keep our rights and also protect our children,” according to WBRC.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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DA: Mother Charged After 2-Year-Old Shot in Home With Unsecured Firearms
The district attorney said the shooting occurred while several children were left unattended in a room where loaded guns were within reach.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 13, 2026 8:08 am ET
Evelyn Etress (via Blount County Sheriff's Office)
BLOUNT COUNTY, AL — The mother of a 2-year-old boy who was fatally shot inside a Blount County home is now facing multiple felony charges, as investigators continue to piece together what authorities believe was an accidental shooting involving unsecured firearms.
According to Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey, Evelyn Leyva Etress has been charged with aggravated child abuse and reckless manslaughter in connection with the death of her son, Noah.
WVTM reported that a $90,000 bond was set on those charges. Court records also show Etress is charged with possession or receipt of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, with an additional $17,500 bond set, according to WVTM and WABM.
As of Saturday morning, the Blount County Jail website listed Etress as having been “released to street,” WVTM reported.
Authorities said the shooting occurred Wednesday morning at a home on Orchard Circle near Hayden. The Blount County Sheriff’s Department and Hayden Police were called to the residence around 10 a.m., according to WBRC.
District Attorney Casey said Etress told investigators she was making tea and had left the children unattended in the home’s master bedroom. According to Casey, Etress reported hearing a loud noise and then seeing children running from a bedroom closet before discovering Noah bleeding and a handgun on the floor, WVTM and WABM reported.
“I don’t think there was any intent that the 2-year-old would die,” Casey said, according to WVTM.
Investigators do not believe the gunshot wound was self-inflicted, Casey confirmed, according to WABM and WBRC. Sheriff Mark Moon said during a news conference that the shooting is believed to have been accidental and that the investigation remains ongoing.
Multiple children were inside the home at the time of the shooting. According to WVTM, Noah’s siblings included two 4-year-old girls, a 9-year-old and a 13-year-old. Five children are now in the custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources, with Noah being the youngest, WVTM reported.
Authorities said several firearms were accessible to children inside the home. Sheriff Moon stated that at least three unsecured long guns were found that were not involved in the shooting, with one weapon taken from the residence, according to WVTM. Casey later said there were at least four, and possibly five, loaded firearms in the home where children had easy access to them, WABM reported.
“The public record that we saw filed in this with the sheriff’s office, there were at least four, if not five firearms that were loaded in that home where the children had easy access to,” Casey said, according to WABM.
WBRC reported that there were six firearms in the house, four of which were loaded and within reach of the children.
The child was taken to Children’s of Alabama after being shot but later died, according to WBRC.
Casey also addressed the status of the children’s father, saying he is a convicted felon who received a pardon about a year ago that restored his firearm rights. The father has not been charged in the case at this time, according to WVTM and WBRC.
During a news conference, Casey urged parents to take precautions with firearms in the home. “Parents, take a moment tonight…evaluate what you have and where it is,” she said. “We can do that and keep our rights and also protect our children,” according to WBRC.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
DA: Mother Charged After 2-Year-Old Shot in Home With Unsecured Firearms
The district attorney said the shooting occurred while several children were left unattended in a room where loaded guns were within reach.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 13, 2026 8:08 am ET
Evelyn Etress (via Blount County Sheriff's Office)
BLOUNT COUNTY, AL — The mother of a 2-year-old boy who was fatally shot inside a Blount County home is now facing multiple felony charges, as investigators continue to piece together what authorities believe was an accidental shooting involving unsecured firearms.
According to Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey, Evelyn Leyva Etress has been charged with aggravated child abuse and reckless manslaughter in connection with the death of her son, Noah.
WVTM reported that a $90,000 bond was set on those charges. Court records also show Etress is charged with possession or receipt of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, with an additional $17,500 bond set, according to WVTM and WABM.
As of Saturday morning, the Blount County Jail website listed Etress as having been “released to street,” WVTM reported.
Authorities said the shooting occurred Wednesday morning at a home on Orchard Circle near Hayden. The Blount County Sheriff’s Department and Hayden Police were called to the residence around 10 a.m., according to WBRC.
District Attorney Casey said Etress told investigators she was making tea and had left the children unattended in the home’s master bedroom. According to Casey, Etress reported hearing a loud noise and then seeing children running from a bedroom closet before discovering Noah bleeding and a handgun on the floor, WVTM and WABM reported.
“I don’t think there was any intent that the 2-year-old would die,” Casey said, according to WVTM.
Investigators do not believe the gunshot wound was self-inflicted, Casey confirmed, according to WABM and WBRC. Sheriff Mark Moon said during a news conference that the shooting is believed to have been accidental and that the investigation remains ongoing.
Multiple children were inside the home at the time of the shooting. According to WVTM, Noah’s siblings included two 4-year-old girls, a 9-year-old and a 13-year-old. Five children are now in the custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources, with Noah being the youngest, WVTM reported.
Authorities said several firearms were accessible to children inside the home. Sheriff Moon stated that at least three unsecured long guns were found that were not involved in the shooting, with one weapon taken from the residence, according to WVTM. Casey later said there were at least four, and possibly five, loaded firearms in the home where children had easy access to them, WABM reported.
“The public record that we saw filed in this with the sheriff’s office, there were at least four, if not five firearms that were loaded in that home where the children had easy access to,” Casey said, according to WABM.
WBRC reported that there were six firearms in the house, four of which were loaded and within reach of the children.
The child was taken to Children’s of Alabama after being shot but later died, according to WBRC.
Casey also addressed the status of the children’s father, saying he is a convicted felon who received a pardon about a year ago that restored his firearm rights. The father has not been charged in the case at this time, according to WVTM and WBRC.
During a news conference, Casey urged parents to take precautions with firearms in the home. “Parents, take a moment tonight…evaluate what you have and where it is,” she said. “We can do that and keep our rights and also protect our children,” according to WBRC.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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