Their 6-year-old was killed with a neighbor’s gun. A court just decided how much his life was worth.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Anthony Senatore never disputed leaving his rifle under his bed, unsecured and loaded. The New Jersey father pleaded guilty in 2014 to child endangerment after his 4-year-old son accidentally used the gun to shoot and kill Brandon Holt, a 6-year-old neighbor, at Senatore’s Toms River home,according to NJ.com.

More than three years after the shooting, a judge had to do the unthinkable: Determine how much the child’s death was worth monetarily to the people who loved him most — his parents.

The answer: $572,588.26

That’s how much was awarded Monday to Christine and Ronald Holt in a wrongful-death suit the couple brought against their former neighbors, Anthony and Melissa Senatore,according to NJ.com.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/their-6-year-old-was-killed-with-a-neighbor%E2%80%99s-gun-a-court-just-decided-how-much-his-life-was-worth/ar-BBtsvAB?li=BBnb7Kz

Edited May 25, 2016 by Dakine10

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

Anthony Senatore never disputed leaving his rifle under his bed, unsecured and loaded. The New Jersey father pleaded guilty in 2014 to child endangerment after his 4-year-old son accidentally used the gun to shoot and kill Brandon Holt, a 6-year-old neighbor, at Senatores Toms River home,according to NJ.com.

More than three years after the shooting, a judge had to do the unthinkable: Determine how much the childs death was worth monetarily to the people who loved him most his parents.

The answer: $572,588.26

Thats how much was awarded Monday to Christine and Ronald Holt in a wrongful-death suit the couple brought against their former neighbors, Anthony and Melissa Senatore,according to NJ.com.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/their-6-year-old-was-killed-with-a-neighbor%E2%80%99s-gun-a-court-just-decided-how-much-his-life-was-worth/ar-BBtsvAB?li=BBnb7Kz

Probably should face criminal charges. Leaving a loaded gun out around a 4 year old is the height of negligence

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Such a sad thing...

[Teddy B 17,252]

Probably should face criminal charges. Leaving a loaded gun out around a 4 year old is the height of negligence

The story states that he plead guilty to child endangerment in 2014.

ETA: Found this in the story:

Senatore was sentenced in February 2015 to serve three years in prison, according to NJ.com. He was released on parole after serving nine months.

Edited May 25, 2016 by Teddy B

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

The story states that he plead guilty to child endangerment in 2014.

ETA: Found this in the story:

So, nine months for his child killing another child. That's not enough time.

[Dakine10 5,452]

The story states that he plead guilty to child endangerment in 2014.

ETA: Found this in the story:

The link in the article to nj.com said he was originally indicted on 6 child endangerment and he pleaded not guilty. He eventually pleaded to 3 counts of 2nd degree child endangerment for each of his own children and 3rd degree child endangerment for the death.

My understanding of the child endangerment charge was that it 's for cases where the child is placed in imminent danger of death or severe injury. I thought when death actually occurred, the charge is greater. It does say the case was transferred to a different prosecutor because he has several relatives in law enforcement.

[Dakine10 5,452]

So, nine months for his child killing another child. That's not enough time.

Failure all around. They need to quit sending the message that these are tragic mistakes and acknowledge that it is a complete and negligent failure of responsibility of the gun owner.

Probably should face criminal charges. Leaving a loaded gun out around a 4 year old is the height of negligence

Definitely should face criminal charges. Probably should have faced stronger charges than he did.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

This is kind of a tough one though. The man didn't do it on purpose and he has to live with this for the rest of his life and his kid for sure. Then you also put him in jail and take him away from his child which is surely traumatized.

This is said all around. The purpose of having a gun is to use it if you need it. If it's locked in a case under 3000 locks when you need it you can't unlock it in time. Can all people just be good please so we won't need guns? sigh

[Teddy B 17,252]

So, nine months for his child killing another child. That's not enough time.

Failure all around. They need to quit sending the message that these are tragic mistakes and acknowledge that it is a complete and negligent failure of responsibility of the gun owner.

I agree with both.

[Expat1 971]

Probably should face criminal charges. Leaving a loaded gun out around a 4 year old is the height of negligence

Yep

Accessory to murder would have carried a much tougher penalty

Edited May 26, 2016 by Expat1

[yuna628 9,758]

I think we can all agree the penalty needs to be tougher. Unfortunately accessory to murder is not a charge that would be viable here. Yes someone was killed. But murdered is a term reserved for those killed by those intentionally with malice. We're talking about a toddler pretty much that had no idea the consequences of their actions. Criminal negligence resulting in the death of a minor, manslaughter... maybe. Being an accessory to a murder means there has to be a murderer.. in which case it's the toddler. The toddler cannot be charged with murder, so there is no accessory either.

This is what I mean by responsible gun ownership though. There is no purpose to a gun but for to kill something or to threaten to kill something (under threat of harm or protection). The child didn't load the gun or take safeties off or unlock it. The owner kept an intentionally lethal device in an unsafe way around children and there's consequences to that. Yet, he doesn't receive a very harsh sentence. I think this is just another example of where the law hasn't caught up with the pure stupidity people do. The charge becomes the catchall term of 'child endangerment' which really doesn't fit... and really revolves around putting a child in danger (his own) and nothing to do with the actions of the child afterwards (the death). That's why the penalty isn't tough. We need to toughen laws for these scenarios, allowing prosecutors to charge individuals accordingly.

[Sousuke 1,214]

Some states have stiffer penalties which I'm okay with. CA I believe its a felony to have an unlocked firearm around a child. Had you thrown that charge into the mix it would have been 3-5 years I bet.

[Expat1 971]

I think we can all agree the penalty needs to be tougher. Unfortunately accessory to murder is not a charge that would be viable here. Yes someone was killed. But murdered is a term reserved for those killed by those intentionally with malice. We're talking about a toddler pretty much that had no idea the consequences of their actions. Criminal negligence resulting in the death of a minor, manslaughter... maybe. Being an accessory to a murder means there has to be a murderer.. in which case it's the toddler. The toddler cannot be charged with murder, so there is no accessory either.

This is what I mean by responsible gun ownership though. There is no purpose to a gun but for to kill something or to threaten to kill something (under threat of harm or protection). The child didn't load the gun or take safeties off or unlock it. The owner kept an intentionally lethal device in an unsafe way around children and there's consequences to that. Yet, he doesn't receive a very harsh sentence. I think this is just another example of where the law hasn't caught up with the pure stupidity people do. The charge becomes the catchall term of 'child endangerment' which really doesn't fit... and really revolves around putting a child in danger (his own) and nothing to do with the actions of the child afterwards (the death). That's why the penalty isn't tough. We need to toughen laws for these scenarios, allowing prosecutors to charge individuals accordingly.

Homicide is homicide no matter the circumstances or intention or ability to discern right from wrong. Though the child is innocent in this case the parent is not and the victim and victim's family did not get their deserved justice.

Im a gun guy, but leaving guns around the house where the kids can get it is not something I ever did or will do. I believe that doing so makes me directly responsible for the outcome. Same rule in my view applies here.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Seems like negligent homicide would have been the appropriate charge.

Half of the states in the union have laws that hold adults criminally responsible for enabling children to have access to firearms. The other half call it an accident. That mentality needs to change. If people can't be responsible for their actions, they need to be accountable.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Sad story. One of 227 children 11 and under killed by gunshot since January 1st, 2016.