Fayette man charged with manslaughter in shooting death of 15-year-old son
FAYETTE, Mo. (KMIZ)
Howard County prosecutors have charged a Fayette man in connection with the shooting death of his 15-year-old son.
Eddie M. Valencia, 51, faces a single charge of first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the Feb. 20 shooting.
Valencia's probable cause statement said he was checking one of his firearms, a Remington Model 700 .308, by "dry firing" it. Valencia allegedly told Fayette police that he pointed the gun at his son and it went off.
The court document said Valencia threw the gun and immediately called 911 after the shooting.
Police responded to Valencia's residence in the 100 block of College Park around 9:17 p.m. Officers say the shooting victim was found face up inside the residence with a single gunshot wound to the head.
During an interview with police, Valencia said he didn't check to see if the gun was loaded before firing it. Valencia said the guns "are never put away loaded."
Valencia allegedly told police that he thought his son had left the room when the gun was fired.
Officers asked Valencia if he had been drinking before the shooting, he said no. When asked if he would give a breath test, Valencia refused, police said.
Howard County Jail records said Valencia was held in jail custody without bond as of Tuesday.
Online court documents said 14th Circuit Judge Mason Gebhardt recused himself from the case. On Tuesday, Circuit Judge James Cooksey was assigned to further court hearings.
