WEST CHESTER, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The 18-year-old brother of a young boy who accidentally shot himself in the head has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Authorities say Victor Lara-Ortiz of Coatesville left a loaded gun, unholstered and unsecured, on his bedside table on Feb. 28, and his younger brother, 4-year-old Roman Aguilera-Ortiz, unknowingly pulled the trigger, killing himself.
Investigators say Lara-Ortiz was not home at the time of his brother’s death.
Officers pronounced the 4-year-old dead at the scene. A semi-automatic weapon was lying next to Roman on the floor of Lara-Ortiz’s bedroom, police say.
William Thomas, 31, also faces charges. Detectives determined Thomas bought the gun on Feb. 15 even though he was prohibited from doing so due to a prior conviction. They say he lied on his firearms application, using Lara-Ortiz’s phone number instead of his own and leaving out his prior conviction.
Police say Thomas “illegally transferred” the gun to Lara-Ortiz that same day. Thomas reportedly tried to buy a gun two other times but was denied. Lara-Ortiz was with him during one of those times.
“Lara-Ortiz left his bedroom door opened and unlocked with a loaded semi-automatic Glock-model pistol, unholstered and unsecured, on a table in his bedroom. There were no safety precautions made whatsoever to secure the gun in any way,” said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan at a press conference Tuesday.
She called the little boy’s death 100% preventable and held up a gun lock, a safeguard that is given away for free by most police departments.
Coatesville Police Chief Jack Laufer said the announcement of the arrests and charges is a result of the gun violence crisis and by no means is a solution.
“The enforcement part falls on the police, but the other issues that are identified when looking at the gun problem have to be addressed by the community and society at large,” he said.
Because of that gun culture, Laufer said, an 18-year-old is dealing with serious criminal charges rather than getting ready for his high school graduation.
Both men are currently being held at Chester County Prison.
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