Mother and Boyfriend Arrested After 2-Year-Old Boy Fatally Shoots Himself in Highland
A heartbreaking incident in Highland, California, has resulted in the death of a two-year-old boy and the arrest of his mother and her boyfriend.
According to authorities, the child reportedly found a loaded handgun hidden between the cushions of a couch inside the family’s home on Thursday, July 16, 2026. The toddler accidentally discharged the weapon and suffered a fatal gunshot injury.
The child’s mother, 20-year-old Jamaria Cobb, and her 52-year-old boyfriend, Armand Bright, were subsequently arrested on suspicion of child abuse causing great bodily injury or death.
The allegations against Cobb and Bright have not been proven in court. Both individuals must be presumed innocent unless and until they are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Highland Deputies Respond to Fatal Child Shooting
Deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded shortly before 5:30 p.m. to an apartment on Victoria Avenue near Pacific Street after receiving a report that a child had been shot.
When deputies arrived, they immediately began performing CPR on the boy. Emergency medical personnel continued attempting to save him before transporting him to a local hospital. Despite those efforts, the child died a short time later.
Investigators allege that the boy gained access to a loaded firearm that had been placed between two couch cushions. Authorities identified Bright as the registered owner of the handgun.
A one-year-old child who was also reportedly inside the apartment was taken into protective custody by San Bernardino County Child and Family Services.
Mother and Boyfriend Held on $1.35 Million Bail
Cobb and Bright were both arrested on suspicion of child abuse causing great bodily injury or death. Initial news reports stated that each defendant was being held on approximately $1.35 million bail at the San Bernardino County Central Detention Center.
The amount of bail imposed in a serious felony case may be based on several factors, including:
- The seriousness of the alleged offense
- The potential danger to the public
- The defendant’s criminal history
- The likelihood that the defendant will appear in court
- Any aggravating circumstances alleged by prosecutors
- The applicable county bail schedule
- Any decision made by a judge during a bail hearing
An initially reported bail amount is not necessarily permanent. A judge may raise, lower or maintain bail after considering the allegations, arguments from the prosecution and defense, and the individual circumstances of each defendant.
California Child Abuse Charges Under Penal Code 273a
California Penal Code Section 273a applies when a person willfully causes or permits a child to suffer unjustifiable physical pain, injury or mental suffering. It may also apply when someone responsible for a child’s care allegedly allows the child to be placed in a situation that endangers the child’s health or safety.
When the alleged circumstances are likely to produce great bodily injury or death, a violation of Penal Code 273a may be prosecuted as a felony. A felony conviction under this section can result in a state prison sentence of two, four or six years.
Prosecutors do not necessarily have to prove that a defendant intended for a child to be injured. Depending on the charge and circumstances, the prosecution may attempt to establish that the defendant knowingly permitted a dangerous condition or acted with criminal negligence.
However, an arrest alone does not establish criminal responsibility. The prosecution must prove every required element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
California Laws Regarding Firearm Storage Around Children
The Highland toddler shooting also raises serious questions regarding California’s firearm-storage requirements.
Under California Penal Code Section 25100, first-degree criminal storage of a firearm may occur when:
- A person keeps a firearm on premises under that person’s custody or control;
- The person knows or reasonably should know that a child is likely to gain access to the firearm; and
- The child obtains the firearm and causes death or great bodily injury to themselves or another person.
Beginning January 1, 2026, California Penal Code Section 25145 also requires a firearm kept inside a residence to be securely stored whenever it is not being carried or readily controlled by the owner or another authorized user.
A firearm is generally considered securely stored when it is kept in or disabled by an approved firearm-safety device or secured inside a qualifying gun safe.
Whether prosecutors will file any firearm-storage charges in addition to the reported child-abuse allegations will depend on the evidence and charging decisions made by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
What Happens After a Serious Felony Arrest?
After an arrest involving allegations of child abuse causing death, the defendants will generally be booked into county jail and scheduled for an arraignment.
During the arraignment, the court may:
- Inform the defendants of the formal charges
- Address the appointment or retention of defense counsel
- Accept an initial plea
- Review bail and release conditions
- Issue protective or stay-away orders
- Schedule future court proceedings
If felony charges are filed, the case may proceed to a preliminary hearing. At that hearing, prosecutors must present sufficient evidence to establish probable cause that a felony occurred and that the defendant committed it.
A preliminary hearing is not a trial, and the prosecution does not yet have to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Responsible Firearm Storage Can Prevent Tragedies
Authorities have emphasized that firearms should be locked, secured and kept completely inaccessible to children.
Young children may not understand that a firearm is real or capable of causing death. Hiding a loaded gun under furniture, between couch cushions, inside an unlocked drawer or in another easily accessible location does not provide adequate protection.
Firearms in homes with children should be secured in an approved safe or with a certified locking device. Ammunition should also be stored securely, and children should be taught never to touch a firearm without adult supervision.
This Highland incident is a devastating reminder that even a few moments of access to an unsecured firearm can result in irreversible consequences.
All American Bail Bonds Provides 24-Hour California Bail Assistance
When someone is arrested in California, family members are often left trying to understand the jail system, the defendant’s bail amount and the next steps in the court process.
All American Bail Bonds provides confidential bail bond assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our experienced California bail bond agents can help families obtain booking information, understand the bail process and begin arranging a defendant’s release when bail has been authorized.
We treat every client with professionalism, discretion and respect. An arrest is not a conviction, and every person accused of a crime has the right to due process and the presumption of innocence.
For immediate California bail bond assistance, contact All American Bail Bonds today.
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Criminal allegations are accusations only. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
