Police: 2-year-old not expected to survive after shooting himself, father arrested
May 27, 2018, 6:15 PM | Updated: May 28, 2018, 5:40 am
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – A West Valley City father has been arrested after his 2-year-old son shot himself in the head with a gun.
27-year-old Tasman Maile
27-year-old Tasman Maile faces charges of manslaughter for leaving his hand gun accessible to his child, obstruction of justice, possession of a weapon by a restricted person, and drug possession.
The 2-year-old son was flown to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City where he’s fighting for his life.
Saturday, police were called to the area of 2700 S Fair Isle Lane just before midnight. Lt. Jeff Conger says Maile called police after the boy shot himself inside the home. Neighbors called police too after hearing gun shots. Lt. Conger says the boy’s older sibling was also home at the time.
Lt. Conger says Maile wasn’t fully cooperative with officers. He wouldn’t tell police how the toddler got a hold of the gun.
“The situation of how he found the gun, we’re not exactly sure of that, but we don’t believe at this time that the father tried to purposefully hurt his child,” said WVCP Lt. Jeff Conger.
Maile has had a handful of police incidents. According to court documents, he’s currently on probation for a state felony of an accident involving property damage.
“He should not have had any weapons with him from his criminal history convictions in the past,” said Lt. Conger.
West Valley City Police continue to investigate a tragedy they say could have been avoided.
“You should always secure your weapons for, this is probably the number one reason,” said Lt. Conger.
Neighbors we spoke to Monday say the noise of the parents’ anguished screams continues to echo in their minds in what they say usually is a quiet neighborhood.
“We came from my sister-in-law’s house and we parked our car and we just heard somebody screaming,” said Maalo Feterika of California, who is visiting family in the neighborhood. “The only thing I want to say to the parents, my prayers, because my words will not heal your broken hearts,” said Feterika.
