A police officer in Virginia is facing a misdemeanor charge after police say his toddler fatally shot himself with his father's service weapon.
The Daily Press reports that the Newport News police officer was charged on Feb. 8 with allowing access to firearms by a minor.
The incident occurred in late October at the home of Stefhone Christian McCombs Sr., 25. The boy who died was 2 years old.
McCombs told detectives he came home from work and placed his un-holstered gun next to him on the living room couch, according to the criminal complaint filed in court.
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McCombs said he “forgot the firearm was still left unsecured” when his children got home hours later, the complaint said. The handgun had a round in the chamber and was fully loaded.
“When Mr. McCombs stepped into the kitchen, he heard a loud gunshot,” court records stated.
The boy died at a hospital.
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McCombs has been out on paid administrative leave since the incident. It's unclear if he's hired an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
