Man thought his girlfriend was cheating on him so he put a gun to her 3-year-old son’s head to force a response whether she was being unfaithful before shooting the boy in the forehead as the boy’s mother tried to intervene; charged!
Authorities said a 24-year-old man, later identified as Sergio, faces serious charges after the fatal shooting of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old boy, later identified as Ivan. Sergio was arrested and charged with murder and assault upon a child under eight, causing death. The young victim was shot in the forehead at close range, a violent act motivated by the suspect’s demand for a confession of infidelity from the boy’s mother. The DA expressed the community’s grief and determination for justice, stating, “We are sickened and heartbroken at the senseless murder of Ivan… We will sadly but steadfastly do our job to make sure this person will never harm another.”
The incident came to light in the early hours of Tuesday when police responded to a 911 call regarding a shooting at an apartment complex. The caller, identified as Ivan’s mother, reported the shooting of her son by her boyfriend, Sergio. She reportedly told the dispatcher that her boyfriend shot her baby in the head and then fled the residence. Responding officers were able to quickly locate Sergio, and after a brief resistance, they apprehended him.
Upon entering the apartment, authorities discovered the young victim with an apparent gunshot wound to the forehead. The events leading up to the tragedy involved a heated discussion about the couple’s relationship, escalating to Sergio’s irrational demand for a simple “yes or no” answer from the victim’s mother. According to the arrest affidavit, Sergio continued to demand that she answer, ‘Yes or no.’ Fearing for her safety, the mother went to her son’s room, where he was asleep on his bed, and locked herself in the room with him. Sergio then broke through the locked door. He then exited the bedroom and began pacing outside. Sergio soon returned with a firearm, holding it down by his side and yelling, ‘Yes or no!’ The gun suddenly went off, and the mother looked and saw that her son had been shot in the head.”
One additional detail about the shooting was provided from the DA’s office. According to prosecutors, as Sergio aimed the gun “within a foot of the child’s head,” his mother tried to intervene and reached for the weapon, which is when Sergio fired the fatal shot. A judge ordered Sergio to be held without bond.
