Phoenix Police have arrested a 29-year-old father earlier this week following the accidental shooting death of his toddler son at the family home.
On Jan. 12, officers were dispatched to an apartment near 19th Avenue and Thunderbird Road over reports of a shooting involving a 2-year-old child that was “critically injured.”
The boy did not survive his self-inflicted injury and authorities arrested his father, Joshua Lewis, and charged him with child abuse.
Police Sgt. Andy Williams said that the incident appeared accidental but the father did not keep the weapon out of his toddler’s reach.
“This is a horrible tragedy for the family, for this young boy, for the community,” the official said. “It’s a sobering reminder of the importance of gun safety.”
“If you are a gun owner, you have a great responsibility to make sure your guns are somewhere safe, inaccessible to children or anyone else who should not have them.”
