The mother of a 4-year-old who shot herself now faces a murder charge in her daughter’s death.
WSB′s Tom Jones was inside the courtroom as a judge read the new charge for Kaelin Lewis during her first appearance Tuesday.
Kendal Lewis died Sunday night after police say she found a gun in her mother’s car in the backseat as they drove on Interstate 85 near North Druid Hills exit.
Police originally charged Lewis with cruelty to children in the second degree. The court upgraded the charge to murder.
At some point during the drive, the 4-year-old shot herself. Officials declared Kendal dead on the scene.
Monday would have been Kendal’s first day of pre-kindergarten according to a GoFundMe page set up for her funeral expenses.
Family members told Jones that they were not ready to speak publicly about the child’s death. They did call it a horrible mistake.