A Wisconsin mother has been sentenced to prison more than a year after her 6-year-old son, Da’Quell “King” Collins, died in a tragic and preventable shooting inside their Milwaukee home.
The emotional sentencing hearing ended with family members shouting from the courtroom as the judge ordered the mother to serve prison time instead of probation.
Daquela Collins, 27, pleaded guilty to neglecting a child with a consequence of bodily harm as a party to a crime and straw purchasing a firearm. On Thursday, a judge sentenced her to three years in prison followed by three years of extended supervision, rejecting her defense team’s request for probation.
The heartbreaking case stems from the death of young Da’Quell, affectionately known as “King,” who fatally shot himself on April 1, 2025, just days before his seventh birthday.
Investigators said King found an unsecured firearm inside the family’s home after it had been left within his reach.
According to prosecutors, Collins shared the home with her brother, Quintell Collins, a convicted felon who was legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
Authorities alleged that Daquela illegally purchased guns on her brother’s behalf because he could not legally buy them himself.
On the day of the shooting, Quintell reportedly sent his sister a video showing himself handling firearms inside the home while King could be seen nearby.
Prosecutors said Daquela responded by telling her brother to put the gun away and keep it out of her son’s reach. Despite that warning, the firearm remained accessible to the child. Hours later, King found the weapon and suffered a fatal gunshot wound. His grandmother discovered him and immediately called 911, but first responders were unable to save his life.
During sentencing, prosecutors acknowledged that Collins had already suffered an unimaginable loss but argued that her decision to purchase firearms for someone legally barred from owning them helped create the dangerous circumstances that ultimately led to her son’s death.
Defense attorneys argued that no prison sentence could compare to the pain of losing a child and asked the court to impose probation instead. However, Judge Michelle Havas said the seriousness of the crimes and the blatant disregard for firearm laws made incarceration the appropriate punishment.
As the sentence was announced, emotions boiled over inside the courtroom. Several relatives cried out in support of Collins while others yelled as deputies escorted her away in handcuffs. The judge repeatedly ordered those in attendance to stop the disruptions before warning deputies to intervene if necessary.
The case also resulted in a lengthy prison sentence for King’s uncle. Earlier this year, Quintell Collins was sentenced to 17 years in prison, followed by 14 years of extended supervision, after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including child neglect, illegal firearm possession, and reckless endangerment. Prosecutors said he fled the home after the shooting, hid the gun, and later led police on a high-speed chase before he was eventually arrested.
The death of Da’Quell “King” Collins has renewed conversations about firearm safety, illegal straw purchases, and the importance of securely storing guns in homes where children are present. Prosecutors described the tragedy as entirely preventable, saying several decisions by the adults involved ultimately led to the young boy’s death.
As the criminal cases come to an end, King is being remembered not for the tragedy that claimed his life, but as a young child whose future was cut short far too soon.
Video Credit: Live Trials | Law & Crime
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