ROME, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say an 18-year-old central New York man who tried to stand up while holding a loaded shotgun has arrested in connection with the death of a 7-month-old boy who was killed when the weapon went off.
Rome police say Henry Bartle faces a charge of criminally negligent homicide. He was arrested early Sunday.
Authorities say he was in his apartment on Saturday with his girlfriend, who is the baby's mother, and another man, and was cleaning the 12-gauge shotgun in the living room. Police say he then loaded the gun and had it in his lap pointing in the direction of the child.
When the gun went off, the baby was hit in the upper body and died.
It was unclear if Bartle has an attorney.