Moorhead Man Arrested, Charged in Death of Six-year-old Boy

(Minneapolis, MN) -- A man who had a gun in his home while four children played, leading to one accidently shooting and killing himself, is now charged.

33-year-old Phillip Jones Jr. has been arrested and charged with firearms violations after a juvenile was killed by a bullet fired from a gun that Jones allegedly possessed, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.

According to court documents, on March 21st, officers of the Moorhead Police Department were dispatched to a residence for a report of a juvenile male with a gunshot wound. After attempting life saving measures, paramedics pronounced the 6-year-old juvenile male, deceased. Investigators learned that three other juveniles were present in the residence at the time of the incident. According to investigators, Jones had been living at the residence but was not present at the time of the incident, nor were any other adults.

Investigators learned that a firearm, a Smith and Wesson SW99, .40 caliber pistol, was located in a box on top of the kitchen cabinets. The firearm was still loaded and a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson spent casing was found in the kitchen trashcan. The investigation later revealed that DNA collected from the firearm matched the DNA profile of Jones. Because Jones has a prior felony conviction in Hennepin County, he is prohibited under federal law from purchasing or possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Paulsen is prosecuting the case.