Officials say the 2-year-old child’s father, 29-year-old Joshua Lewis, kept a loaded gun in a location accessible to the child.
According to court paperwork, Lewis and the toddler's mother were lying on the bed playing on the TikTok app when the gun went off.
Lewis initially told officers he did not know if the two-year-old shot himself or if the weapon was fired by a three-year-old child who was also inside the apartment.
He was booked into jail on one count of child abuse recklessness.
During his initial appearance in court, a judge said he didn’t think that Lewis had ill intent in the incident, but that due to recklessness someone was killed.
Child dies after accidental shooting at north Phoenix apartment
A child has died after a reported accidental shooting near 19th Avenue and Thunderbird Road.
Donate to Toddler loss to a tragic gun accident, organized by Angelica Martinez
Unexpectedly on January 12th, 2022 in Phoenix, AZ my nephew 2 year old Kayden … Angelica Martinez needs your support for Toddler loss to a tragic gun accident
