A Kansas father is in custody and faces murder charges after his 3-year-old daughter allegedly shot and killed her 1-year-old sister using their father’s gun.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office has custody of Michael Tejeda, 25, according to online records. He was arrested on March 1, but newly released records provide insight into what allegedly occurred in his home on the night of February 28.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the local ABC affiliate KAKE, Tejeda called 911 that evening to report a shooting. He allegedly told the dispatcher that his 3-year-old daughter had shot his 1-year-old daughter and could be heard asking the 3-year-old “why she did that.”
KAKE reported that first responders rushed the 1-year-old to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly before 9:30 p.m.
Tejada allegedly told police that after the children’s mother left, they napped and watched television. Tejeda told cops that he fell asleep in the living room and woke up around 6 p.m.
According to KAKE, Tejeda awoke two hours later to discover that he had fallen asleep with his handgun in a prop holster on the front of his waistband. He allegedly told police that the fake holster had no retention and that a firearm could fall out if it was turned upside down while in the holster.
Tejeda allegedly claimed that he removed the gun from his waistband and placed it on the living room fireplace. He estimated the fireplace to be about four feet tall.
According to the KAKE story, the girls’ father told police that he was changing clothes in his bedroom when he heard a loud bang, which caused his daughter to run toward her room crying. When he asked what the sound was, the 3-year-old apologized and said it was his gun.
“He went into the living room and found [the 1-year-old] with a gunshot wound to her head while she was lying on the couch,” the affidavit allegedly states. “Tejeda said he found his firearm lying on the couch next to [the child].”
He reportedly told police that his 3-year-old daughter had previously expressed “curious” about the gun and commented on it.
Following the shooting at her home, the girl was taken to a child advocacy center for a forensics interview, where, according to KAKE, she was reportedly “mostly interested in playing but did say she received an injury earlier in the day and received a Band-Aid.”
“She did not mention anything about the incident,” the affidavit stated.
The children’s mother, a 24-year-old woman who has not been identified in reports, was allegedly at a friend’s apartment getting tattoos when she left the children in Tejeda’s care.
She reportedly told police that she received a call from Tejeda as she was finishing up telling her that the older girl had shot the younger one, at which point she instructed Tejada to call 911 and immediately drove to the house.
The mother reportedly told police that when she arrived home, she grabbed the 3-year-old, who repeatedly apologized.
Tejeda faces first-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, and two counts of aggravated child endangerment.
