Man charged with felony after child shoots off part of their own finger

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged with a felony after a child shot off part of their own finger on Thursday.

Dontay Palmer, 29, was charged first-degree child endangerment. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An arraignment was held on Monday and a confined docket hearing was scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18. A preliminary hearing was also set for 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24.

The probable cause statement says deputies were called to University Hospital after a child had a gunshot wound that led to them missing part of their left index finger. Palmer allegedly told deputies that the child was left alone in a living room and lit a firework with a burning candle, the statement says.

Another person told deputies that Palmer allegedly told them the youth shot off their finger, court documents allege.

Deputies went to the home and allegedly found a blood trail to a bedroom and four guns, one of which was near a high char, the statement says. Blood was seen in the high chair and deputies noted a spent shell casing was found, the statement says.