Flint Father Pleads No Contest in First Michigan Safe Storage Law Case

Michael Tolbert, a Flint man, has pleaded no contest to charges including second-degree child abuse and multiple firearm offenses after his 3-year-old daughter, Skye McBride, accidentally shot herself in the face with an unsecured gun in 2024. Tolbert is the first person charged under Michigan's new safe storage law, which mandates gun owners to lock up firearms if children are present. Skye has undergone multiple brain surgeries, physical therapy, and now uses a prosthetic eye, with her family noting the life-altering impact of the injury. Prosecutors reduced the initial first-degree child abuse charge to second-degree due to the lack of intent, and Tolbert is scheduled for sentencing on October 27, with an expected prison term of 11 years. Skye’s family hopes the case will raise awareness about firearm safety and encourage gun owners to properly secure their weapons to prevent similar tragedies. The case highlights the seriousness of violating the state's safe storage requirements and the ongoing efforts to prevent child injuries from unsecured firearms.