Parents Charged After Child Shoots Younger Brother

The parents of a 2-year-old northern Kentucky boy have been charged with manslaughter after the toddler’s 3-year-old brother fatally shot him.

Kenton County prosecutor Rob Sanders said during a press conference Friday the boy’s parents were arrested Thursday in a motel room in Florence.

First responders were called to the child’s home in Covington on Monday afternoon and the toddler was rushed to a hospital, but later died, according to police.

Sanders said the parents are accused of leaving a loaded handgun within reach of the older child, who picked it up and fatally shot the toddler.

Sanders said the second-degree manslaughter charge against the parents is unusual in Kentucky but this shooting death was caused by the fact that two adults left a loaded handgun with a round in the chamber within reach of a 3-year-old child that they did not supervise.

Kentucky law defines second-degree manslaughter as wantonly causing the death of another person. Sanders said the case will be presented to a grand jury, which could opt for a different charge before the case goes to circuit court.
Source: WDRB