OMAHA – Prosecutors say Omaha mother Yolonda Barfield was careless in leaving a loaded gun within reach of her children.
Investigators believe Alonni Barfield, 6, accidentally shot and killed herself with a gun kept under a mattress.
Prosecutors want to hold her mother, Yolonda, accountable, charging her with one count of child abuse by neglect and one count of child abuse with intent in court on Wednesday.
Barfield’s defense attorney stated that her ex-boyfriend terrorized her family, which is why she recently relocated the gun from the closet to under her mattress.
“She was scared for her life,” Barfield’s lawyer stated. “Not only was she scared for her life, but she was also scared for her children’s life.”
Last June, a judge granted Barfield a domestic violence protection order against her ex-boyfriend, who is also the father of one of her children. According to Barfield’s attorney, he violated the order three times last month and became increasingly hostile in the two weeks preceding Alonni’s death.
Omaha police confirmed to First Alert 6 that they are aware of the violations, but the ex-boyfriend has not been arrested.
“We are talking about nine days where something could have been done. Nothing was completed. “My client was simply trying to protect her children,” said Barfield’s attorney.
“At least two felony warrant affidavits were provided to the county attorney’s office for their review,” according to an OPD spokeswoman.
First Alert 6 contacted Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine. He stated that the county attorney who received the paperwork from Omaha Police was involved in a murder trial, so the response was delayed.
However, prior to the child’s death, the attorney and OPD were communicating to build a stronger case against the ex-boyfriend. That effort is ongoing.
Supporting domestic violence survivors
The Women’s Center for Advancement assists victims of domestic abuse. Every month, the WCA assists in requesting 40-50 protection orders.
“Protection orders are about safety,” said Katie Welsh, a lawyer and vice president of programs at the WCA.
However, advocates at the organization take safety a step further, encouraging clients to develop a comprehensive plan.
“I would never tell anybody to solely rely on a protection order,” Welsh said. “They have to consider their safety from a variety of perspectives. Financial and physical safety.”
If a client wanted a gun for personal protection, Welsh would advise them to weigh the pros and cons first.
“Our philosophy is that survivors know best how to protect themselves.”
She would then receive training and ensure that it was stored safely.