07-18-2011, 11:09 AM
i can't recall in which thread we were discussing legal consequences for parents leaving loaded weapons around where there are little kids. this will do.
CONNERSVILLE, Ind. -- Police are investigating the shooting of a toddler in Fayette County, Ind.
Connersville police said Thursday that a 5-year-old boy accidentally shot his 2-year-old brother in a home on Reid Street at about 8 p.m. But on Friday, Police Chief David Counceller said they don't know for certain that the older boy was holding the gun when it went off.
Police said initially that the the older boy got the gun out of a box under a bed in an upstairs bedroom.
"We have our suspicions that the 5-year-old did (fire the gun), but we need to get that confirmed, and we will do that today," he said.
Police said Friday that the slain boy's name was Wyatt Fasbinder. His twin sister was not injured.
Counceller said Friday that the boys' father told officers that the gun was kept loaded, but without a round in the chamber. The chief said the 5-year-old appears to have been capable of loading the chamber.
"He displayed how you can take the gun and pull it back and he described the handgun very well ... Obviously he knew the characteristics of this firearm pretty well. There's a reasonable belief he could have chambered one," he said.
Counceller said he believed the child could have learned how to do so from a variety of sources, such as toys, TV or video games.
An autopsy is set for Friday in Muncie. Counceller said swabs were taken from all three children's hands in an effort to determine who was holding the gun, but that investigators are leaning toward the older child because of his knowledge of the gun and its operation.
Police said they don't expect to file charges at this point, but prosecutors are still looking at the case.
CONNERSVILLE, Ind. -- Police are investigating the shooting of a toddler in Fayette County, Ind.
Connersville police said Thursday that a 5-year-old boy accidentally shot his 2-year-old brother in a home on Reid Street at about 8 p.m. But on Friday, Police Chief David Counceller said they don't know for certain that the older boy was holding the gun when it went off.
Police said initially that the the older boy got the gun out of a box under a bed in an upstairs bedroom.
"We have our suspicions that the 5-year-old did (fire the gun), but we need to get that confirmed, and we will do that today," he said.
Police said Friday that the slain boy's name was Wyatt Fasbinder. His twin sister was not injured.
Counceller said Friday that the boys' father told officers that the gun was kept loaded, but without a round in the chamber. The chief said the 5-year-old appears to have been capable of loading the chamber.
"He displayed how you can take the gun and pull it back and he described the handgun very well ... Obviously he knew the characteristics of this firearm pretty well. There's a reasonable belief he could have chambered one," he said.
Counceller said he believed the child could have learned how to do so from a variety of sources, such as toys, TV or video games.
An autopsy is set for Friday in Muncie. Counceller said swabs were taken from all three children's hands in an effort to determine who was holding the gun, but that investigators are leaning toward the older child because of his knowledge of the gun and its operation.
Police said they don't expect to file charges at this point, but prosecutors are still looking at the case.