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Man sentenced in fatal shooting of 2-year-old boy

A man who pleaded guilty in connection with the 2015 death of a toddler in Pittsburgh’s Fineview neighborhood was sentenced Monday to two to five years in prison.
Harrison Marshman, 31, admitted to putting a loaded gun on a couch where the 2-year-old boy was sitting.

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After the child grabbed the gun, Marshman removed the ammunition.
One live round was still in the gun, and when Josiah Taylor grabbed the gun again, it went off.
The child was shot in the chest.

Marshman pleaded guilty in June 2016 to a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

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In court, prosecutors argued for a tough and substantial punishment. The maximum sentence could have been 5 to 10 years, but Judge Anthony Mariani ruled two to five years.
He told the judge during Monday's sentencing,"I'm sorry. I know I messed up and I cared about him."
The district attorney’s office released the following statement:

“We believe that it is an appropriate sentence given the evidence in the case and the willingness of the defendant to plead.”

Defense attorney Blaine Jones said there could have been numerous factors in the judge’s decision, and Marshman’s willingness to take responsibility may have helped him as the judge weighed the impact on the boy’s family.

“Whenever I have clients in this situation, what I always talk to the (district attorney’s) office, is about finding an amicable situation preventing the loved ones from reliving this all over again,” Jones said.

Marshman was not related to the boy, but he did babysit him.

Cox Media Group

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