Man Held After Son, 3, Shoots Self

The father of a 3-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself was arrested Monday on suspicion of leaving his handgun where his son could get it, authorities said.

Investigators arrested Jose Plascencia, 22, of West Valinda for “criminal storage of a handgun” after questioning him and the child’s mother, Deputy Richard Pena of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. The child is near death, Pena added.

Officials said the child shot himself once in the upper torso while in front of his home about midnight Sunday. It was not clear why the child was outside, how he got the gun or what the parents were doing, Pena said.

The parents took the boy to a hospital, where police where called.

Plascencia was being held in lieu of $20,000 bond at the Sheriff’s Department’s Industry station, officials said.

Officials are still investigating the shooting.