A father from Pennsylvania is facing charges following the tragic death of his three-year-old son. The toddler accidentally shot himself with a handgun that was carelessly left unattended under a couch, according to local authorities.
Jose Hilario Abreu, 28, found himself in custody on Friday, facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment. Abreu’s son, Elijah Abreu Borgen, was the victim of this tragic incident that took place on March 28.
Abreu, accused of leaving a loaded semi-automatic handgun under the sofa where his son and another two-year-old child were seated in their Allentown residence, is now facing the consequences of this horrific event.
“When the gun discharged, it was unholstered and resting atop of a pillow on the couch where both toddlers were sitting,” stated Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan.
The horrifying series of events unfolded when Abreu left the room momentarily, only to be alerted by a loud bang. He rushed back to find his son with a gunshot wound to the chest. The gun was found on a pillow on the sofa, pointing towards Elijah, with gunshot residue detected on the child’s hands.
Regrettably, despite being rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest, young Elijah could not be saved. His death was ruled an accident.
Following his arraignment on Friday, Abreu was detained with bail set at $250,000. The incident has sparked a heated debate about responsible gun ownership, especially in houses with children.
“Be a good parent, a responsible gun owner and store your damn guns responsibly for the sake of your family,” urged Rep. Josh Siegel (D-Allentown) in a statement.
