The New Jersey father of a 4-year-old boy who accidentally shot and killed his 6-year-old neighbor has been arrested, accused of having multiple unsecured weapons accessible to children, officials said.
The Atlantic County prosecutor's office announced Monday that Anthony Senatore, 33, has been charged with six counts of child endangerment and a disorderly person's offense for enabling access by minors to a loaded firearm. He is free on bond.
Senatore's son and 6-year-old Brandon Holt were playing in their neighborhood April 8 when the 4-year-old got a loaded .22-caliber rifle from his family's home and shot Brandon in the head, authorities said. The boys were about 15 yards apart.
Brandon died at a hospital a day later.
Police were seen carrying multiple firearms out of the Senatores' home after the shooting. Anthony Senatore was known to be an avid hunter, and his three children have names associated with hunting terms, according to law enforcement sources and neighbors.
Brandon's grandmother told NBC 4 New York at the time she was angry the family failed to take enough caution in locking up their guns.
"I can't believe that they found 11 guns in that house," said Donna Elefante. "I mean, with three kids? Give me a break."
On Tuesday, Elefante said the arrest was one step towards justice for Brandon, but that she didn't think the 4-year old's father was the only one who was careless.
"The mother didn't know all these guns were in the house, loaded weapons?" Elefante asked.
A woman at Senatore's home declined to comment Tuesday.
Attorney information for Senatore was not immediately available, and a phone number was not listed.
The Atlantic County prosecutor's office took over investigation of the case early on because the Senatores have relatives who worked in law enforcement in Ocean County, where Toms River is located.
One resident said the two families had not lived in the neighborhood for long and she did not know them well.
“I'm sad for the children involved and their families, but I'm angry with whoever owns that gun and allowed a little child to get hold of it,” Debi Coto, who lives a few doors down, said after the shooting.