Father arrested after 2-year-old accidentally shoots himself in Pennsylvania

In Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 34-year-old Luis Marin turned himself in to authorities on after his two-year-old son accidentally shot himself with a loaded gun left unattended at their home in Pottstown. Marin faces serious charges, including felony endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person, following the frightening events, when the toddler found the firearm lying on the bed.

Reports indicate that at the time of the incident, Marin was allegedly occupied with his phone while the shooting occurred. Investigators revealed that Marin had gone to a second-floor bedroom to get a crossbody bag intended for his nephew. Unfortunately, he left his two handguns and ear protection on the bed, making them accessible to his curious child. The gunfire led to severe injuries for the toddler, who was promptly rushed to Pottstown Hospital by his panicked parents.

Emergency room staff later reported that the child suffered broken ribs, a fractured scapula, and damage to his left lung. Additionally, burns on his skin indicated that the firearm had been discharged at close range. Despite the harrowing injuries, District Attorney Kevin Steele confirmed that the child survived the ordeal, emphasizing the dangers of unsecured firearms in homes.

Marin's preliminary hearing is set for October 8, 2024. If convicted, he could face a maximum of five years in prison along with a $10,000 fine. In the meantime, Magisterial District Judge Jody L. Griffis has set his bail at $50,000 unsecured, and mandated that no firearms be present in Marin's residence during the legal proceedings.