Anthony Senatore, Indicted After Son, 4, Shoots 6-year-old neighbor Brandon Holt
Photo/CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS / @CSI?cafe via wikimedia commons
Anthony Senatore, resident of Toms River and father of a 4-year-old who fatally killed his 6-year-old playmate earlier this year was indicted on child endangerment charges.
Brandon Holt, the six-year-old neighbor and friend was accidentally shot when the 4-year-old (whose name has not been released) got hold of his father’s .22 caliber rifle.
More on the original story here
Holt died because of a single shot that hit him right on his head. He was pronounced dead at the Jersey Shore Medical Center on April 8.
Following an intensive investigation, 33-year-old Senatore was arrested but later, freed on a bail. The Ocean County grand jury returned an indictment against him.
The father now faces five counts of second-degree child endangerment for the five unsecured arms that were located in his house. He faces an extra charge for keeping the .22 rifle loaded and accessible to the kids.
Authorities say that besides the rifle used to fire the fatal shot, two 12-gauge shotguns and two other shotguns were all found unsecured, in close proximity to ammunition and accessible to Senatore’s children.
New Jersey gun owners are required by law to properly secure weapons if they know children could have access to them. Firearms can be secured by using a container box or a trigger lock.
