The uncle of a 7-year-old boy who was shot and killed in Canyon last month has been arrested and charged with manslaughter following a Grand Jury indictment.
The tragic incident occurred around 12:45 p.m. on September 1 at the Palo Duro Trailer Park. When officers with the Canyon Police Department arrived, they found the 7-year-old child suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite emergency efforts, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to investigators, evidence indicates that a 2-year-old child found and accessed a firearm, which then discharged, fatally wounding the 7-year-old. The gun was reportedly unsecured at the time of the incident.
The investigation was presented to the Randall County District Attorney’s Office on September 9 and later to a Grand Jury on October 8. After reviewing the evidence, the Grand Jury accepted a manslaughter charge against 37-year-old Jeffrey Chavez, the uncle of the deceased child.
A warrant for Chavez’s arrest was issued shortly after the indictment. He was taken into custody on Tuesday and is currently being held in the Randall County Jail.
Police have not released additional details about how the firearm was stored or who owned it, but they emphasized that the case serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of securing firearms, especially in homes where children are present.
Manslaughter is a second-degree felony in Texas, which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
