MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A Maryland father has been indicted in connection with the shooting death of his 6-year-old boy in Montgomery County, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.
7News learned Thursday that a grand jury in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County indicted Lascelle Lee, 32, of Upper Marlboro, on charges of involuntary manslaughter, neglect of a minor, reckless endangerment, and allowing a minor access to a loaded firearm.
The charges come after the shooting incident on Feb. 17 at a residence in the 10100 block of Maple Leaf Drive in Montgomery Village.
Officials allege that Lee left a loaded and unsecured firearm in a location where “he knew and should have known that an unsupervised minor under 16 years of age would gain access to the firearm,” the court documents stated.
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Authorities said the boy accessed the weapon and shot himself in the face, “which instantly killed him.”
Montgomery County police said officers responded to the home at approximately 2:45 p.m. for a reported shooting. First responders found the child suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police told 7News the child was inside the townhome with one adult at the time, and that adult called 9-1-1, police said. The handgun involved was legally registered.
In February, 7News confirmed the identity of the boy as Lascelle Lee IV.
Following a bench warrant hearing on April 8, Maryland Judge Bradford McCullough ordered Lee released on his own recognizance pending trial.
A scheduling hearing is set for April 24 to determine trial dates, officials said.
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