8-Year-Old Fatally Shoots 1-Year-Old At Florida Motel: Sheriff

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FL — An 8-year-old boy fatally shot a 1-year-old while playing with his father's gun at a Florida motel over the weekend, according to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons.

The older boy's father, Roderick Randall, left the gun in a holster in the closet and left the motel, the sheriff's office said.

The boy knew where the gun was, took it from its holster and began playing with it when he shot the 1-year-old, Simmons said at a news conference Monday.

The bullet also hit a 2-year-old, who was expected to recover.

Randall, who has 14 prior felony convictions, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, tampering with evidence and two counts of culpable negligence, Simmons said.

Randall's girlfriend was at the motel but was asleep when the shooting occurred, officials said. The toddlers, which included the 1-year-old and twin 2-year-olds, were hers but not Randall's, according to Simmons.

Randall, 45, took the gun and an undisclosed amount of what police believe are drugs and left the motel before returning, police said.