A Wisconsin father stole a gun and hid it in his SUV. His two-year-old son later discovers it and shoots himself

A Wisconsin man faces criminal charges after he stole a gun and later found his son, a 2-year-old toddler, and shot himself in the head. The man faces charges of neglecting a child and causing serious bodily harm.

Citing police sources, WDJT reported that Smith’s girlfriend recalled looking outside and seeing Smith’s car outside her home. Moments later, Smith got out of his car and shouted, “He found it, he found it!”

Police were called after the toddler was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Milwaukee with a gunshot wound to the head.

The boy was reportedly sitting in the back seat of Smith’s SUV when he spotted the .38 caliber weapon. Smith said he was waiting for his girlfriend when he heard the gunshot and realized his son had been shot.

Smith reportedly claimed he had found the gun a few weeks earlier and was keeping it in the trunk of his car. However, police said Smith stole the gun from his son’s mother’s boyfriend. Smith’s girlfriend also reportedly said that Smith routinely drove around with a gun in his lap.

Smith reportedly led officers to the gun involved in the shooting. The gun – which was wrapped in a blue bandana and thrown in a dustbin – had a case in the chamber and three rounds in the magazine.

Authorities said it was unclear if the toddler was expected to survive.