ROCK ISLAND, IL – In a bizarre criminal case unfolding in Illinois, 10-year-old Zion Williams was discovered dead in a garbage can behind his home, with authorities believing an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to be the cause of death.
The grim discovery led to courtroom proceedings against the boy’s mother, 37-year-old Sushi Staples, who now faces multiple felony charges including obstruction of justice and failure to report the death of a child under 13.
During a preliminary hearing, Rock Island Police Department Detective Jonathan Shappard provided sworn testimony, recounting that two of Zion’s siblings revealed to investigators that the boy had been “playing” with a loaded firearm prior to his death, as per courtroom footage shared by Rock Island, Illinois CBS affiliate WHBF.
The accidental shooting is believed to have occurred in the basement of the family residence.
The charges against Staples further extend to destruction of evidence and concealment of the death—specifically, moving a body, as she’s alleged to have disposed of her son’s remains in the trash, leaving them undiscovered for nearly a year. Authorities suspect that Staples’ failure to report the incident was motivated by a desire to continue collecting certain state benefits.