4-Year-Old Fatally Shoots Himself After Finding Loaded Gun In Car, Parents Charged and Arrested

The parents of a 4-year-old Colorado boy who fatally shot himself have been charged and arrested.

On Tuesday, Manitou Springs Police officers were dispatched to a scene involving shots fired. Upon arrival, they discovered the deceased 4-year-old.

The father, Carlos Perez, 26, happened to be inside Maggie’s Farm Marijuana Dispensary at the time. His wife and child’s mother, Ashlynne Perez, 25, waited inside the car with their son.

“Ms. Perez told [her son] to re-buckle, but he refused to listen and climbed into the driver’s seat of the vehicle,” according to the affidavit. “Then as she turned her head to look out the window towards the gas station … she heard a loud boom.”

Police did not release the child’s name but did confirm he died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

His parents told law enforcement that he was shown the gun the day before and played with it while unloaded. Carlos also said he kept the loaded gun inside the glove box.

“Both parents were also aware [the child] was capable of exiting his booster seat and gaining access to the front seat of the vehicle. Neither placed the firearm in a safe location despite knowing the past history of [the child] and firearms resulting in this incident occurring,” states an affidavit obtained by TV station KKTV.

Both parents face one count of criminal negligence child abuse resulting in death.