Mother to Be Charged With Abuse in 8-Year-Old’s Accidental Shooting

SANTA ANA —  Prosecutors on Monday filed a felony child abuse charge against an Anaheim woman whose 8-year-old son was accidentally shot and wounded by his older brother after the pair were left alone in a van with several handguns.

Police allege Norma Magana Villela, 30, tried to cover up her actions by coaching her sons to tell police the younger boy was struck by a stray bullet. Villela is scheduled to be arraigned today in Municipal Court in Santa Ana on the single felony count stemming from the Friday night shooting, police said.

The 8-year-old was treated for a gunshot wound to the neck at UCI Medical Center in Orange and later released.

Police say the shooting appears to have been accidental, but declined to discuss potential charges against the 13-year-old, citing privacy laws regarding juveniles.

Supervising Deputy Dist. Atty. Charles J. Middleton, who oversees child abuse cases, said an investigation is continuing, and Villela could face charges for allegedly lying to police and coaching her children to do the same.

When police arrived, the family told authorities the boy was struck by a stray bullet. But after further questioning, the youths eventually told investigators a different story.

According to police, the shooting occurred Friday night after Villela left the brothers inside a van while she visited an acquaintance in Santa Ana. Tucked under the passenger seat were three automatic handguns, police said.

Investigators said they believe Villela wanted the weapons removed from her home and was planning on disposing of them when the shooting took place.