The father of a 2-year-old girl who fatally shot herself in Fayetville, N.C., over the weekend has been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter.
The girl, identified as Samarri Tyana Beauford was said to have found a loaded .22-caliber pistol under the couch, which police say was left there by her father, Melvin Andre Clark Jr., 19, CNN reports.
Fayettville police spokesman Lt. Todd Joyce said police pursued the involuntary manslaughter charge because the toddler was killed in a “reckless or careless manner.” Clark, who police said had several outstanding warrants and had been previously convicted of possession of a firearm by a minor, breaking and entering, and larceny, was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
He is currently being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond and has not been assigned a lawyer.
[CNN]