Report: Father of toddler who shot self left gun, son alone

ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando toddler managed to find a gun and accidentally shoot himself last week.

Even though the family won't talk, more details have emerged about why his father was arrested.

Michael Garcia bonded out of jail, charged with child neglect. The toddler is home recovering.

Eyewitness News combed through the police report and asked Orange County deputies what finally led to the father's arrest.

No one at the Garcia household wanted to talk, but he did speak with investigators.

Garcia said he left the powerful .45-caliber Hi-Point at a friend's house, and the shooting happened after that friend returned the gun, according to a report.

Garcia told deputies he got the gun back in a paper bag. He said he took it, placed it on the edge of the bed and left his 2-year-old son sitting right next to it.

The father told authorities he was standing in the doorway when he heard a gunshot, turned around and saw the toddler on the bed.

Doctors said the powerful gunshot went through both the toddler's legs.

After a week of investigating, deputies charged Garcia Tuesday.

WFTV