Watch CBS News

Boy, 3, Killed After Being Accidentally Shot By Brother, Father Charged

(CBS) -- A Humboldt Park family is mourning the death of a three-year-old boy after he was accidentally shot by his six-year-old brother Saturday night.

CBS 2's Jeremy Ross reports Michael Santiago, the father of the two boys, has been charged with child endangerment in connection with the shooting.

Santiago is accused of knowingly storing a loaded firearm on top of his refrigerator.

Investigators say his six-year-old son got that revolver and accidentally shot his three-year-old brother, Eian Santiago, in the head.

Eian was taken to Norwegian American Hospital, and then transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"He was a good kid," said Eian's grandfather, Israel LaSalle, who was home with the boys Saturday night when noise echoed through their Humboldt Park home, altering the lives of everyone in the family.

"I heard a pop, and I came through the door, and the 6-year-old he told me 'Eian's been shot,'" LaSalle said. "So I ran down there, and I grabbed him. He was laying flat, and I grabbed him, and flipped him over, and he had blood all over him."

LaSalle said Eian's older brother might not understand what happened, and remains in shock. He said there is no anger toward his son.

"You can't be angry at a person. He was working, you know? He probably just, he didn't think they were going to be able to get up there, you know, on top of the freezer," he said.

LaSalle said he doesn't know how often his son left the gun on top of the refrigerator.

"That's the first time that I heard that. I didn't even know that he had a gun," he said.

Podcast

Santiago was ordered held on $75,000 bond in court on Sunday.

LaSalle said any parents who keep a gun in their home should make sure it is locked up, and stored properly.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.