An East Lansing man who accidentally shot and killed his 7-year-old stepdaughter Amaia Edmond two years ago was arraigned on unrelated charges Saturday.
Lansing police arrested 34-year-old Lavar Burton Thursday evening. It started with with a traffic stop on the 3200 block of S. Washington Ave.
He was arrested for driving with a suspended license. That's when an officer searched Burton and the vehicle and found a loaded handgun and cocaine.
Burton faces several felony counts including possession with intent to deliver cocaine, felon in possession of a firearm, felony firearm and carrying a concealed weapon.
Burton is due back in court in early July.
Meanwhile, Amaia Edmond's father, John Edmond is speaking out about Burton's arrest saying he's not shocked by it.
"I didn't know when it was going to happen. I didn't know what time it was going to happen, but something was going to happen," he said. "When you live that criminal lifestyle, it eventually catches up to you."
Although Burton is not behind bars for accidentally shooting Amaia during a home invasion in July of 2010, Edmond says Lansing police catching Burton with a loaded gun and drugs is close enough.
"I'm quite excited that he's been brought to justice for the things that he's done," Edmond said. "Lavar has just been a person that's caused a lot of pain, in my life."
All he wants now is for Burton to take responsibilty for his actions.
"I've always held Lavar responsible for my daughter's death. I've forgiven Lavar. He knows that. I've told him that," he said. "Hopefully he'll learn his pattern of lifestyle and will have to change." He added, "The same thing that happened to Amaia can happen to his own children, where's he living at now."
6 News reached out Burton's wife and Amaia's mother by phone, but she did not wish to comment.
