Father lies about home invasion after son accidentally shoots, kills himself, according to police

PHILADELPHIA — Authorities said a father initially claimed his 4-year-old son was shot and killed in a home invasion and robbery in Philadelphia early Thursday morning.

Later that afternoon, police said the father lied about the home invasion and said the child accidentally shot and killed himself.

Philadelphia police were called to the house around 1 a.m. Thursday.

When officers arrived, they were met by a father holding a younger child who said the 4-year-old shooting victim was upstairs.

Officers rushed the boy to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

The 4-year-old boy was in the home with his father and another child at the time. According to police, the mother was at work.

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