PITTSBURGH — A man charged with the fatal shooting of a 22-month-old toddler pleaded guilty on Monday.
Harrison Marshman of Sandusky Court appeared before Judge Anthony Mariani on Monday and entered the guilty plea.
Marshman was accused in the shooting death of Josiah Taylor. According to police, Marshman was babysitting Taylor, his girlfriend’s son.
According to the criminal complaint, a man who identified himself as Marshman told police Taylor had shot himself on the telephone.
When officers arrived, Marshman ran to the officers carrying Taylor in his hands saying, “Help me. Help me. I didn’t mean to do it. It was an accident.”
According to the criminal complaint, Marshman changed several factual details about his initial statement, including that Taylor was shot in the chest by Marshaman after he placed a loaded gun on a couch were the toddler was sitting, according to the criminal complaint.
Marshman told police that Taylor grabbed for the gun twice and he took it away each time, first to remove the ammunition clip and then to clear the live round that was in the chamber.
It was while attempting to empty the chamber when Marshman shot Taylor in the chest, the complaint said. Taylor was taken to the hospital where he died in the emergency room 20 minutes after the initial emergency call.
Marshman pleaded guilty one count each of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children.
There is no agreement to sentencing and a sentencing hearing has been set for September 15, 2016.
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