A Pennsylvania father is facing criminal charges after his 3-year-old son grabbed his “fully loaded” gun, then accidentally shot and killed himself, authorities said.
Jose Hilario Abreu, 28, of Allentown, is charged with involuntary manslaughter in which the victim is under 12 years of age, as well as two counts of endangering the welfare of children, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced Friday.
The tragic incident occurred late last month, according to police.
On March 28, just before noon, a woman called police saying her child had grabbed a gun and shot himself in the chest.
The young victim, identified as 3-year-old Elijah Abreu Borgen, was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio later determined Elijah died from a gunshot wound to the torso and his death was ruled accidental.
The boy’s father told investigators he placed his Glock 19 semi-automatic handgun under the sofa on which Elijah and his 2-year-old brother were sitting and left the room. While in another room, “he heard a loud bang and returned to find Elijah suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest,” police said.
An investigation revealed that Abreu had left the gun “unattended and fully loaded with a live cartridge in the chamber.”
Evidence also revealed that the gun was “unholstered and resting atop of a pillow on the couch where both toddlers were sitting” when it was discharged.
Abreu was arraigned Friday with bail set at $250,000 cash and then sent to Lehigh County Jail.
