The father of a 2-year-old boy in Sandy Springs has been arrested in connection with his son’s death.
Richard Willis faces charges of second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children in the death of his son, River Willis, according to an affidavit obtained by CBS News Atlanta.
Authorities say the shooting occurred just before 2 p.m. Wednesday at an apartment on the 2600 block of Sandalwood Drive.
The affidavit states that Willis and his wife had returned home from a medical procedure and placed River in his bed for a nap. Willis then removed a fanny pack containing a loaded pistol and left it on the couple’s master bed.
A short time later, River came downstairs and asked his father to stay with him until he fell asleep. Willis reportedly told the boy to go upstairs to the master bedroom, saying he would join him shortly.
Minutes later, Willis heard a gunshot. He ran upstairs and found his fanny pack open, the pistol near his son, and River with a gunshot wound to the face, according to the affidavit.
Authorities allege that Willis knew River was aware of the pistol’s location and failed to secure the weapon safely.
This incident marks the second shooting involving a young child in metro Atlanta on Wednesday. Earlier in Gwinnett County, a 4-year-old accidentally shot himself in the finger after finding a gun in a truck. No charges have been filed in that case.
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