Man charged in connection with fatal shooting of 22-month-old

PITTSBURGH — A 22-month-old was fatally shot in the chest in a North Side apartment Tuesday afternoon, and his mother's boyfriend has been charged with criminal homicide and endangering the welfare of a child.

According to emergency dispatchers, the shooting was reported around 5 p.m. inside an apartment in the 1600 block of Sandusky Court in Pittsburgh's Fineview neighborhood.

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The boy was transported to Allegheny General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:20 p.m.

Authorities said the actions of 30-year-old Harrison Marshman Jr. led to the toddler’s death.

Major Crimes Cmdr. Larry Scirotto said Marshman’s “actions were reckless and negligent and caused the death of the child.”

Court paperwork obtained by Channel 11 News indicates Marshman was the only adult inside the home with Josiah Taylor when he set his gun down on the couch and the child started playing with it.

Marshman took the gun and attempted to remove the bullet from the chamber when his finger hit the trigger.

The boy was shot in the chest.

Afterwards, Marshman was heard yelling "Help me. It was an accident."

Police said Marshman initially told investigators the child had shot himself.

Pittsburgh police said Marshman had a legal permit for the gun.

A check of his criminal record revealed he previously was convicted of disorderly conduct in 2009.

Marshman was to be arraigned Wednesday morning. He remained in the Allegheny County Jail.

WPXI