Are Michael Jackson's Children Safe? Questions Raised After Stun Gun Incident
Questions were raised about Jacksons' living situation after stun gun purchase.
March 3, 2010— -- Questions about Katherine Jackson's ability to raise her late son's three young children have surfaced after a child-protection investigation into the purchase of a stun gun by one of Michael Jackson's nephews.
The Jackson family was quick to quash rumors that the weapon purchased online by Jaafar Jackson, 13, son of Jermaine Jackson, was ever a threat to any of Michael Jackson's children.
But a source close to the family told ABC News that he had been told that some of the children in the house were chasing Jackson's 8-year-old son, Blanket, when they were caught with the stun gun
The courts always have the option of removing Michael Jackson's three children from Hayvenhurst, the Jackson family compound where the children have been living under the care of their 80-year-old grandmother since their father's death last summer.
"What is some 13-year-old doing in a home, ordering a gun -- a [stun gun] -- online," said Mike Kretzmer, an attorney who practices family law. "Where is the supervision?"
"Using a [stun gun] in the home certainly raises the question if their needs are being met," Kretzmer said.
Lisa Love, who produced the Jackson's reality television show and spent days in the family's compound, called the family victims of the media.
"It's unfortunate for Katherine," she said. "She's such a loving and endearing person, and now being put in a situation where people will be questioning her ability to raise children and she's definitely qualified to do that."
Officials from the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services were at the Jackson home Monday and Tuesday to investigate the purchase of the stun gun.
Jaafar allegedly bought at least one stun gun, and possibly two, off the Internet, and the children, who all live in the house, played with the weapon for three days before they were caught, sources close to the family said they were told.
Officials were surprised to learn that as many as 14 people regularly live in the home, and several others routinely stay there, sources said.
The sources' accounts were refuted in a statement released Tuesday by Katherine Jackson's attorney, Adam Streisand. According to the statement, Jaafar ordered only one stun gun online, opened the package alone in the bathroom and tested it on a piece of paper.
According to Streisand's account, Katherine Jackson and household security heard the stun gun and immediately confiscated it.
"Blanket Jackson never saw or heard the [stun gun]," concluded the attorney's statement. "Neither did Paris Jackson. Prince saw the [stun gun] in the possession of security. There is no second [stun gun]."
Earlier today, Katherine Jackson's attorney released a statement correcting that Jaafar Jackson ordered a stun gun and not a Taser. They misidentified the weapon as a Taser in yesterday's press release.
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