NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A South Carolina father is facing charges after investigators said his four-year-old son accidentally shot himself with a handgun Wednesday at his parent’s home in North Miami Beach.
Authorities said North Miami Beach police officers responded to a shooting incident near the 17000 block of Northeast Second Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers encountered Peter Rodler Tidot, 29, of Columbia, outside his parent’s residence, who informed them that his four-year-old son had accidentally shot himself.
An arrest report states police found the child in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to his head, and a gun was found on the floor nearby.
Local 10 News spoke with Ronel Tidot, Peter Tidot’s brother, who said the child, who he identified only as “Junior,” is “doing good” expected to survive and that he was going to Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital to check on his nephew.
Ronel Tidot also claimed his brother had a good relationship with his nephew.
Police said Tidot was taken to the North Miami Beach police station for questioning, where he waived his Miranda rights and elected to speak with detectives.
According to Tidot’s statement, he and the victim arrived at his parent’s residence earlier that day, where he brought a black Sig Sauer .45 caliber handgun and placed it in his waistband with a round in the chamber.
The rest of his confession was redacted in the report, however, Tidot admitted to contacting the police and waiting for officers to arrive outside the residence, police confirmed.
After further investigation, police said Tidot left the loaded gun unsecured and within reach of his son, who grabbed it and accidentally shot himself on the right side of the head.
Detectives called Tidot’s actions “culpable negligence,” after they said he failed to protect his son which resulted in great bodily harm.
Jail records show Tidot is facing one count each of child neglect with great bodily harm and culpable negligence pertaining to leaving a firearm within easy access of a minor.
As of Thursday, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his total bond was set at $3,000.
Tidot appeared in bond court on Thursday afternoon, where a judge initially ordered him to stay away from the victim. However, the State Attorney’s Office modified the order to allow supervised contact only. Additionally, he was prohibited from possessing any firearm, weapon or illegal drug.