Incident Overview
A tragic incident occurred in southeast Houston, where a 4-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the head. The boy’s condition is currently critical. The incident took place at the SageHollow Apartments, located in the 10700 block of Fuqua Street, shortly before 1 p.m. on Monday.
Arrest and Charges
Nicholas Zepeda-Quintanilla, 27, has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies related to the incident. He faces felony counts of injury to a child and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. According to court records, Zepeda-Quintanilla had previously been convicted of a felony, specifically assault on a security officer in 2021. This conviction prohibited him from legally owning a firearm for five years after his release from parole supervision in November 2022.
Circumstances Surrounding the Incident
The gun used in the incident was purchased by Zepeda-Quintanilla for the child’s mother. Both Zepeda-Quintanilla and the child’s mother claimed that they had stored the gun in a closet before going to sleep. However, the gun was later found to be placed on a shelf, loaded and unsecured by a trigger lock, making it accessible to the child. The couple awoke to a loud noise, only to find the child on the floor with a gunshot wound.
Previous Convictions and Current Status
Zepeda-Quintanilla was out on bond for an unrelated charge, where he is accused of speeding away from police. During probable cause court, this information was revealed, highlighting Zepeda-Quintanilla’s history of run-ins with the law. The boy’s mother and her boyfriend, Zepeda-Quintanilla, were detained after the incident.
Current Status of the Boy and Zepeda-Quintanilla
The Houston Police Department confirmed that the boy remains in critical condition. Zepeda-Quintanilla is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning to face the charges against him.
Conclusion
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of gun safety and responsible ownership. The consequences of irresponsible gun storage and ownership can be devastating, as seen in this tragic case. It is crucial for gun owners to take necessary precautions to prevent such incidents, including securing firearms and keeping them out of reach of children. The community hopes for the boy’s recovery and will be following the developments in Zepeda-Quintanilla’s case closely.
