Authorities have arrested a central New York man who claims a loaded shotgun he was holding discharged accidentally when he tried to stand up, striking and killing a 7-month-old boy.
Rome police say 18-year-old Henry Bartle faces a charge of criminally negligent homicide. He was arrested early Sunday.
Authorities say Bartle was in his apartment on Saturday with his girlfriend, who's the baby's mother, and another man, and was cleaning the 12-gauge shotgun in the living room. Police say he then loaded the gun and had it in his lap pointing in the direction of the child.
The baby was struck in the upper body when the gun went off.
It was unclear if Bartle has an attorney.
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