The incident took place on March 28 in Pennsylvania. (Representative photo)
A 28-year-old man in the United States has been charged after his 3-year-old son fatally shot himself with a gun left under a couch. According to a news release from the Allentown Police Department, the incident occurred on March 28 in Pennsylvania. The man, identified as Jose Hilario Abreu, was indicted Friday on charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in the death of his son, Elijah Abreu. Secure. He is accused of leaving a semi-automatic handgun loaded with a live cartridge unattended in the room under the couch where his son and a two-year-old were sitting in his home.
“Jose Hilario Abreu, of Allentown, is charged with involuntary manslaughter where the victim is under 12 years of age and two counts of endangering the welfare of children; breach of a duty of care creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily harm to a child six years of age and younger,” the press release said.
The 28-year-old father told police that on March 28, he placed his gun “under the couch where the two children were sitting and left the room.” Police allege the gun was “fully loaded with a live cartridge in the chamber.” room”.
Later that morning, Mr. Hilario heard “a loud bang” from the other room and found his three-year-old son shot in the torso. The fired gun was on a pillow next to the two children, police said.
“A rapid gunshot residue test was performed on Elijah following his death and returned a presumptive positive indication of gunshot residue on his hands,” the news release said.
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The child's mother called 911 and said her son “grabbed a gun and shot himself in the chest,” police said. The 3-year-old was then rushed to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. His death was ruled an accident, police said.
Jose Hilario Abreu was booked into the Lehigh County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond. He will be heard next Friday.