Mother of shot 2-year-old kept loaded gun for protection from drug dealer

El Paso County investigators say the Colorado Springs mother whose two-year-old son fatally shot himself last Sunday kept the loaded gun inside their home for protection from a drug dealer.

Melissa Michelle Adamson, 32, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of child abuse resulting in death.

Adamson flagged down authorities while holding her son, Lohki Bloom, in her arms on Oct. 21. Bloom was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries after shooting himself inside the house with a .380 handgun.

Investigators interviewed Adamson later that night to figure out how Bloom got his hands on the firearm. Adamson said she got a text message that day from her methamphetamine dealer, identified only as “Beast.”

According to an arrest affidavit, Adamson said there was a dispute over a drug deal and that at some point between 2 and 6 p.m., “Beast” showed up at her home on Hartford Street. She told investigators she knew he was there because of surveillance cameras on the property.

When “Beast” left, Adamson went inside and placed the handgun inside the office of her home. She then went to the garage to call her sister, and that’s when she heard “something, possibly a gunshot,” according to the affidavit.

The sheriff’s office believes “Adamson was negligent” and placed her son “in a situation that resulted in his death” because the loaded handgun was unsecured in the home.

Adamson is currently free on bond.

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A two-year-old is dead after being shot Sunday evening. The Coroners Office later identified the boy as Lohki Bloom.

It happened around 5 p.m. at 1533 Hartford Street south of Colorado Springs. Deputies responded to a shooting of a two-year-old. Bloom was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Information at this time is still not clear.

Jacqueline Kirby, media relations manager for the sheriff’s office, said, “We really have to do our due diligence and make sure that we shore everything up and that we have all of the information so that we can really find out what happened last night.”

Crime tape blocked off the area for most of the night and into the morning. Neighbors say this is a sad situation.

Miranda Hobbs who babysat the Bloom said, “But he was really sweet, and he really loved, I don’t know, he was just sweet, he was nice.”

Hobbs also added that she feels for the siblings.

“They don’t deserve to go through this, not at all. I don’t care whose fault it is but like, they are never going to be the same. Ever.”

Kirby added saying no matter the situation, Keep firearms as far away from children as possible.

“For people that own firearms to always make sure they are unloaded, they are locked, and they are out of the reach of children so we can prevent tragedies. But again, we don’t know if that’s exactly what happened last night,” Kirby said.

Kirby also said that the crime scene was large, leading to a longer investigation.