A New London man is facing a child endangerment charge after authorities say a 2-year-old gained access to a handgun inside a vehicle and accidentally fired it.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Henry County District Court, Steele Joshua Jacobsmeier is charged with child endangerment resulting in bodily injury following an incident August 24 at a residence on South Orchard Lane in New London.
Authorities say two children, approximately 2 and 1 years old, were left unattended and unrestrained in the front seat of a vehicle. Court documents say Jacobsmeier was in the garage at the time, while another adult was inside the residence.
Investigators allege that while the children were playing inside the vehicle, the 2-year-old gained access to a 9-millimeter handgun that was stored in an open compartment at the bottom of the center console.
The child allegedly fired one round. According to the complaint, the firearm recoiled back towards the child and caused his lip to split open and bleed.
Investigators say a bullet fragment was later found protruding through the top of the driver’s-side dashboard.
The criminal complaint was filed September 3 in Henry County District Court.
Defendants are presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in court.