HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A South Florida man is facing negligence charges after police say his 6-year-old nephew got a hold of his gun and fired a deadly shot.
Police say Juan Martinez Jr. was having a family barbecue in the backyard of his Homestead home Sunday.
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After snorting cocaine and drinking beer, Martinez Jr. went to his room and retrieved a loaded assault rifle, police say. He then passed the rifle to his father, Juan Martinez Sr., who left it on a table near the barbecue, police say.
At some point, Martinez Jr.'s nephew was able to get a hold of the rifle and pulled the trigger, striking Martinez Sr.
Martinez Sr. was taken to Kendall Regional Medical Center, where he later died.
Martinez Jr. told police it was an accident. He was arrested on a charge of culpable negligence and taken to the Turner Guildford Knight Correctional Center.