4-year-old's shooting leads to charges for Rostraver couple
The parents of a 4-year-old Rostraver boy who accidentally shot himself in the head this summer are charged with endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangering, according to court documents.
Laura C. Steele, 32, and Michael Lynn, 37, kept the loaded gun unsecured under the bed in their Gaudio Drive home, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said when announcing the charges Monday.
Rostraver police and county detectives were called to the couple’s home July 6 to investigate the incident. The boy was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and continues to receive constant medical care, Ziccarelli said in a news release.
Police confirmed Steele and Lynn were home at the time of the shooting and heard a “pop” from the bedroom and found the child bleeding on the floor with the handgun beside him, Ziccarelli said.
“This little boy will likely have to live with this painful reminder for the rest of his life,” Ziccarelli said. “While we know we cannot prevent every crime, we have to find a way to protect our most vulnerable.”
Attorneys for Steele and Lynn were not listed in court documents. Both face a Jan. 5 preliminary hearing in District Judge Wayne Vlasic’s Rostraver court.
Ziccarelli said her office is partnering with nonprofit Ray of Hope to provide free gun locks. To receive one, call 724-875-2415 or email egoldberg@mhaswpa.org.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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