Arizona Teen Arrested After Toddler Brother Finds His Gun and Blows Off Hand: Police

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Getty

Getty

A toddler in Arizona accidentally shot himself in the hand with his brother’s gun — and now the brother is facing charges.The incident occurred on March 3 at a residence in Tucson after the 2-year-old victim found a gun belonging to his teenage half-brother, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.Deputies have now arrested 19-year-old Jeremiah Vaughn and charged him with domestic violence child abuse.“The preliminary investigation revealed that 19-year-old Jeremiah Vaughn left a firearm within the  child’s reach, leading to the child gaining access to the weapon and inadvertently discharging it,” said Deputy Adam Schoonover of the PCSD.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.Vaughn was booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Complex; records show that a judge set his bail at $2500. The teenager has since posted bail, Schoonover told PEOPLE, and is due back in court on Friday,Schoonover also said that the Department of Child Safety is conducting their own investigation into the incident.PEOPLE reached out to the public defender representing Vaughn in a separate case involving shoplifting charges, but she did not respond to a request for comment.

A toddler in Arizona accidentally shot himself in the hand with his brother’s gun — and now the brother is facing charges.

The incident occurred on March 3 at a residence in Tucson after the 2-year-old victim found a gun belonging to his teenage half-brother, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies have now arrested 19-year-old Jeremiah Vaughn and charged him with domestic violence child abuse.

“The preliminary investigation revealed that 19-year-old Jeremiah Vaughn left a firearm within the  child’s reach, leading to the child gaining access to the weapon and inadvertently discharging it,” said Deputy Adam Schoonover of the PCSD.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Vaughn was booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Complex; records show that a judge set his bail at $2500. The teenager has since posted bail, Schoonover told PEOPLE, and is due back in court on Friday,

Schoonover also said that the Department of Child Safety is conducting their own investigation into the incident.

PEOPLE reached out to the public defender representing Vaughn in a separate case involving shoplifting charges, but she did not respond to a request for comment.

source: people.com