2 children, who police say were shot in head by mother, have died

DAYTON — The Helton children, 8-year-old Khmorra and 6-year-old Kaiden, died Sunday night at Dayton Children’s Hospital, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

• The children were shot at the family's Lori Sue Avenue home on May 18
• The children's 11-year-old sister was at home, but unharmed
• The children's mother, Claudena M. Helton, 30, remains in jail

INITIAL REPORT: 2 children shot in the head in Dayton

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office confirmed they had the bodies of the Helton children, but they would not release their times of death.

The children’s mother was arrested and has been in the Montgomery County Jail since the shooting on Thursday around 10 a.m. at their home at 3821 Lori Sue Avenue.

Claudena Helton is scheduled to appear in Dayton Municipal Court on Monday. She is charged with two counts of attempted murder and four counts of aggravated assault. We have contacted Dayton Police Department officials to find out whether the charges will be increased now that the children have died.

>>PHOTOS:  First responders arrive; neighbors comforted

>>911 CALLS:  Illustrate chaos in aftermath 

The children’s mother, Claudena Helton, had faced previous allegations involving children before last week's shootings. In March 2014, she was convicted of disorderly conduct in Montgomery County Juvenile Court, according to the county prosecutor's office.

At the time of the shootings, an investigation was open and active against Claudena Helton by Montgomery County Children Services.

Reaction from neighbor

John Sanders Sr. has lived in the 3800 block of Lori Sue Avenue — just a few houses down from the Helton home — for 45 years.

"From what I’ve seen and noticed, she and the kids got along fine,” Sanders said. “They were always out in the yard barbecuing, cleaning the car, going back and forth to school. I could see no problem whatsoever. I was very shocked to hear, and disturbed, as to what happened over there.”

Sanders, who has 13 grandchildren, said it saddened him to learn of Khmorra and Kaiden Helton’s deaths tonight.

“I'm sorry to hear that and my prayers go out to the family,” he said.

Sanders said law enforcement should take swifter action if they’re aware of child abuse.

“I’ve always thought and felt if, whenever the authorities know of cruelty ... they shouldn’t wait for an incident such as this to take place in order to take action," he said

Dayton PD: Mother shot two children in head A six-year-old male and an eight-year-old female are in critical condition.

Two children are shot in Dayton, may not survive Police talking with one adult, have not announced arrests.

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