Local news reports
Killeen police Thursday arrested and charged the father of a 2-year-old child injured in an accidental shooting May 31.
Stephan Lemar Hicks, 24, turned himself in to police after a warrant was issued for his arrest Thursday on a charge of making a firearm accessible to a child, a misdemeanor.
Hicks, an Army specialist, is assigned to the 411th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade.
Hicks remains in Killeen City Jail. He will be arraigned today, with bond suggested at $5,000.
The child suffered serious injury after being shot with a .40-caliber pistol left loaded and within reach, Killeen police spokeswoman Carroll Smith said.
“She’s going to be OK, but she has some pretty bad injuries,” Smith said.
At night, Hicks would leave the weapon accessible to him, according to police. In the morning, he would typically place it in a secure place in his home.
However, on the day of the shooting, he forgot to replace the weapon, Smith said.
He forgot. Anybody could do that. Certainly, a misdemeanor is all that merits.
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