Middletown Twp. Man Pleads Guilty In Son's Death: DA

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A Bucks County man has entered a guilty plea in relation to a case surrounding the death of his 2-year-old son, who accidentally shot himself in late 2020.

Jorddan M. Thornton entered guilty pleas to involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment before Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey L. Finley on Thursday. He was sentenced to 11 ½ to 23 months in the Bucks County Correctional Facility, followed by three years of probation. He was also ordered to perform 30 hours of community service and undergo a gun safety or a parenting program.

According to court documents, the incident occurred on Dec. 2, 2020. Middletown Township police arrived at Racquet Club Apartments at 1970 Lincoln Highway to find Thornton holding his son, who had a wound on his head consistent with a gunshot wound.

A further investigation by both police and the Bucks County District Attorney's Office found that his son had "accessed a loaded firearm and then shot himself in the head in a reckless or grossly negligent manner."

His son was taken to St. Mary Medical Center and pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Doctors confirmed that the wound was consistent with a gunshot wound.

A loaded Glock, registered to Thornton, was found at the foot of the bed. Thornton said he had fallen asleep at the time of the incident and thought his son had hit his head on the bed's headboard.

Investigators found several other weapons in the apartment, with only one secured in a gun safe.