Father facing charges after 2-year-old tragically shot himself – prosecutor claims
Father charged in tragic shooting of 2-year-old son, according to prosecutor.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A tragic incident unfolded in Flint, Michigan, where a toddler lost his life after reportedly shooting himself on Wednesday. The father of the 2-year-old boy is now facing charges in relation to the devastating incident, according to officials in Michigan.
Details of the incident
The Flint Police Department’s Major Crime Unit responded to a call about a shooting at a residence on East Philadelphia Avenue around 2:45 a.m. Upon arrival, officers discovered the toddler with a gunshot wound to his head, as confirmed by Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.
Initially, the father, a 26-year-old man, claimed that the child had shot himself with an airsoft gun. However, further investigation led officers to an upstairs bedroom where they found a Glock 22 40-caliber pistol. The firearm, registered to a 31-year-old man from Flint without a concealed firearm license, was located next to a pool of blood and what appeared to be brain matter.
Tragically, the toddler was rushed to Hurley Medical Center but was pronounced dead at 3:04 a.m.
Investigation findings
Upon investigation, it was revealed that the toddler’s father had been with two cousins at the Philadelphia Avenue address earlier in the evening. One cousin, the registered owner of the pistol, and the other cousin, a 25-year-old man from Flint Township with a CPL, were also present at the scene.
Authorities executed a search warrant at the residence and detected a strong odor of marijuana. It was determined that the men had been smoking marijuana before leaving the premises around 1 a.m.
According to Leyton, the toddler’s father heard a gunshot at some point and discovered his son with the pistol and a gunshot wound. A trail of blood was found leading from outside the home to the living room and up to the bedroom, where investigators also located a bag of suspected marijuana.
Charges and legal implications
Following the tragic incident, arrest warrants have been issued for the father and his two cousins. The father is facing multiple charges, including violation of Michigan’s safe storage law causing death, involuntary manslaughter, felon in possession of a firearm, and lying to a police officer regarding a violent crime investigation.
Under Michigan’s safe storage law, the owner of the residence and the owner of the firearm are held responsible for ensuring that firearms are securely stored, especially in the presence of minors. Failure to comply with this law can result in severe legal consequences, as highlighted by Leyton.
Enforcement of safe storage laws
In light of this tragic event, Leyton emphasised the importance of enforcing Michigan’s safe storage laws to prevent similar incidents in the future. The law, which came into effect in February, mandates that firearms be securely locked and stored in the presence of children to avoid accidents.
With resources available for parents and gun owners, such as gun locks provided by Michigan State Police, efforts are being made to raise awareness and ensure compliance with safe storage regulations.
Ongoing investigation
The incident involving the 2-year-old boy remains under investigation as authorities work to uncover further details surrounding the tragic event.
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Father facing charges after 2-year-old fatally shot himself
Father facing charges after 2-year-old fatally shot.
