A father arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide after his 3-year-old son shot himself to death in their South Tucson home has been released after an overnight stay in jail, authorities say.
Anthony Noriega, 23, was released to pretrial services during his initial court appearance Thursday on charges of negligent homicide and domestic violence endangerment after his son allegedly shot himself in the head with an unsecured and loaded gun the child found in the house.
The shooting occurred about 11 a.m. Wednesday outside a home in the 500 block of W. 27th St., near Interstate 10 and West 22nd Street, South Tucson police say.
Noriega told police he was getting ready for work when he heard a loud âbangâ and noticed the toddler on the ground. He called 911 after securing the weapon, he told police.
Noriega told officers that he âkeeps all the firearms loaded with a round in the chamberâ in different areas of the home. This was done despite Noriegaâs admission that this is an unsafe practice and that the toddler had become more explorative around the home lately, according to an interim complaint filed in Pima County Justice Court.
Police noted that the handgun had been left unsecured in a drawer in the childâs room, and that the tot had apparently witnessed the gun being placed there.
Noriega told South Tucson Police that he knew firearms in the house were unsecured and that his children had ways to retrieve them, the complaint said.
During Noriegaâs initial court appearance, prosecutors requested a $750,000 bond.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Tracy Miller released Noriega on his own recognizance after noting that he had no criminal history.
She ordered Noriega to surrender his guns, have no unsupervised contact with minors and adhere to conditions set by the Department of Child Services.
