Dad Shoots Daughter, Blames the Gun — Here’s What Happened in Court

April A father accused of shooting his -year-old daughter in the head has taken a plea deal in a circumstance that stunned the locality and raised urgent questions about gun safety and accountability in the home The man whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the child initially claimed the shooting was accidental telling police that the firearm hit his hip and discharged unexpectedly However investigators determined inconsistencies in his story and charged him with multiple felonies including aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child According to prosecutors the shooting occurred in the family s home while the child was seated nearby The bullet struck the young girl in the head leaving her with life-threatening injuries She was rushed to a local hospital where she survived after intensive recovery but continues to suffer from serious curative complications including partial paralysis and cognitive impairment In a surprise courtroom progress this week the father accepted a plea agreement pleading guilty to second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm In exchange more severe charges were dropped He now faces up to years in prison with formal sentencing scheduled for next month This tragedy could have been prevented stated the district attorney Reckless behaviour with firearms especially around children cannot and will not be tolerated Child protection services have validated that the young girl remains in the custody of relatives while undergoing rehabilitation