INDIANAPOLIS — Four days after she was shot, the family of Britney Long said a tough week got even tougher Wednesday.
"Somebody has to be a voice for Britney because she can't speak for herself anymore," said her mother, Barbara Abdullai.
Court records say Long was shot in the head by her boyfriend, Jomal Tyler, around 1 a.m. Jan. 6 in the 2900 block of North Euclid Avenue, near Massachusetts Avenue and North Sherman Drive.
The family said she was taken off life support after suffering an "unsurvivable catastrophic brain injury." The coroner confirmed Long died Jan. 10.
Tyler allegedly told police his gun accidentally went off when he grabbed it to check on a commotion while Long was lying in bed.
According to court documents, Tyler also told police he snorted cocaine and drank alcohol the night of the shooting. He was charged Tuesday with criminal recklessness.
"It was like, 'Are you serious?' Even just going to my daughter's place to pick up some pieces, there's no way that it was an accident," Abdullai said.
Long's family said she was in an abusive relationship with Tyler for years.
"I told Jomal last year, 'I told y’all need to fix it or separate, let it go,'" said Long's father, Derrick Jackson. "You’re going to shoot my baby or you’re going to set her on fire, but you’re going to regret it. That’s what you’re going to do, I guarantee you."
Long's family said the prosecutor's office never asked them for any information.
"If they don't reach out to us to try to get our input, our feelings, our emotions, the things that we experienced during the course of the relationship leading up to this, it would definitely be unfair," Abdullai said. "It would seem like they are more on his side and justifying what he did."
Tyler is currently being held at the Marion County jail on a $2,000 cash bond.
"It only is going to cost $2,000. That's the price you've got to pay for killing somebody," Jackson said. "The justice system failed. You didn't even make the grade, you didn't even get an F."
Tyler's mother was at his court appearance Wednesday morning.
"My son didn't do this intentionally," India Eavis said. "He loved Britney, I loved Britney. I just know this was an accident."
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office told 13News the case is still under investigation.
Long's mother said she'll continue to fight for her daughter and grandchildren.
"If you don't defend Britney, defend her children," Abdullai said. "They lost something, something that they'll never get back."
According to online court records, Tyler is scheduled to be back in court Jan. 16.