Police in Florida have charged a man after his 8-year old son accidentally shot and killed a 1-year-old boy and injured another child.
Roderick Randall, 45, is facing charges after a shooting Saturday at the Lion’s Motel in Pensacola, Florida, where he was staying with his son, KAIT 8 reported.
Cops say the boy started playing with his father’s gun it before accidentally fired, shooting 1-year-old Kacey Bass and her 2-year-old sister, Local 10 reported.
Randall is accused of leaving the room as his girlfriend slept. Police also claim that Randall left behind his gun in his closet. Cops allege that the boy accidentally fired a single shot while playing with the gun. The bullet struck the toddler and caused him to die. New York Post reported.
“He pulls the gun from the holster, starts playing with it and fires a round into the 1-year-old toddler, ultimately killing the 1-year-old. The bullet then goes through and strikes one of the 2-year-old toddlers who’s injured but is expected to recover,”Chip Simmons, Escambia County Sheriff said during a press conference.
KAIT 8 reported that the toddler will recover.
Simmons said Randall, his son, his girlfriend and the woman’s three young daughters were sharing a room at the motel.
“Roderick decides to come back, grabs the weapon and grabs what we believe is drugs, and he leaves the scene before returning back to the scene,”Simmons said.
Randall was then arrested by police and charged by them with possessing a firearm by an incarcerated felon, tampering, failing to store a firearm, and culpable neglect.
Simmons stated that the incident could not have been prevented.
“We need these parents to step up and do a better job because the decisions that they make can cost. In this case, they can cost the lives of our most precious resource — that’s our children,”Simmons said.
Authorities believe Randall has a history of criminal activity and should never have been allowed to own a gun.
Inside Edition Digital has his criminal records, including those for drug charges, aggravated battery, and evading police.
Randall posted a bond of $41,000 and was released on Sunday night from county jail. He is expected back in court within three weeks. However, Randall did no enter a plea. It is also unclear if he obtained council.
