Two charged, including father, in connection with death of 3-year-old Racine toddler

Officials have charged Jeffery Pitt Jr. with first degree reckless homicide in the shooting death of a 3-year-old in Racine that happened July 12.

At 7:55 AM 3-year-old Jere'Miah was pronounced dead. The boy's father, Jeffery, told police he had five shots on July 11 and came home at 7 PM. When he woke up at 6 AM he saw that Jere'Miah was farther away then he should have been and his body was stiff and cold.

Jeffrey Pitt later told police he had a loaded gun in the waistband of his pants when he went to bed. He said he did not hear anything during the night but later learned that Laquan Russell took the gun from the floor of the living room where Pitt was sleeping. 

After discovering that Jere'Miah was dead, Jeffery counted the ammunition in the gun and realized a bullet was missing. Jeffrey then told Laquan Russell to take the fun and get rid of it in the alley behind the house.

The cause of death for 3-year-old Jere'Miah was a gunshot wound to the chest.

As a convicted felon, police say Pitt should have not had a gun in the first place.

Russell has been charged with obstructing an officer and aiding a felon by falsifying information. In addition to reckless homicide, Jeffrey Pitt has also been charged with possession of a gun and first degree recklessly endangering safety.

The criminal complaint does not make clear who authorities believe fired the gun that killed 3-year-old Jere'Miah.

During an initial court appearance on Wednesday, Russell was given $25,000 bond with restrictions to alcohol, weapons, and no contact with Pitt.

Pitt was given a $100,000 bond with restrictions to alcohol, weapons and no contact with Russell or the mother of Jere'Miah.

Both men are expected back in court on July 27th at 8:30 A.M. for a preliminary hearing.