Montana – In a harrowing incident that left Montana residents shocked, a 24-year-old father, identified as T. Moore, has been arrested and charged with negligent homicide after his 3-year-old son fatally shot himself in the face with a loaded gun the man had left on the living room couch. The father was taken into custody after deputies with the sheriff’s office responded to a heartbreaking call at his residence on earlier this week, on Tuesday, shortly after 10 a.m.
According to authorities, Moore admitted to leaving a loaded handgun unattended in the living room while he stepped outside to smoke a cigarette. Moments later, he heard a popping sound and rushed back inside to discover his toddler son had picked up the firearm and accidentally shot himself in the head. Sheriff D. Short confirmed to local new sources that when deputies arrived, Moore was found sitting in the road outside the home, appearing to be in what they described as an “altered mental state.” When approached by deputies, Moore reportedly told one officer to shoot him and admitted that he was responsible for leaving the gun accessible to the child.
First responders quickly transported the child to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Moore’s emotional and disoriented behavior at the scene raised immediate concerns for investigators. As officers took him into custody, they discovered a .22 caliber handgun and two magazines in Moore’s pants pocket. Deputies also observed what they believed were “track marks” on Moore’s arms—indicative of intravenous drug use. A further search of the home revealed drug paraphernalia, which authorities said is consistent with recent substance abuse.
As the investigation progressed, Moore was charged with negligent homicide, a felony in the state of Montana, for what authorities are calling a preventable tragedy. Sheriff Short expressed sorrow and frustration at the loss of such a young life, stressing the importance of gun safety, especially around children. Moore reportedly told deputies that he had not intended for the gun to be accessible but admitted that he left it on the couch loaded and unattended. He said he had only been outside briefly when he heard the gunshot. Upon reentering the home, he found his son still holding the weapon, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the face.
While no other individuals were inside the house at the time, authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case, including Moore’s possible drug use and the presence of any prior child welfare concerns. Moore was booked into the county detention center, where he is being held on $500,000 bond. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for June 11. Meanwhile, the body of the 3-year-old boy has been sent to the Montana State Crime Lab for an autopsy to officially determine the cause and manner of death.
While Moore has not entered a plea, he remains in custody and has not yet secured legal representation, according to court records. Authorities say the investigation is still active and will likely involve further examination of the firearm, toxicology results, and additional forensic evidence. Sheriff Short emphasized the need for all firearm owners to take necessary precautions to secure weapons, especially in households with children. “This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of how quickly lives can be lost when deadly weapons are not stored safely,” he said.
