PHOENIX (AP) - A father charged with abuse after the shooting death of his 9-year-old son took his own life on Father’s Day, authorities said.
The June 17 death of 32-year-old Kansas Lavarnia was disclosed Tuesday by Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. No further details were released.
Lavarnia was charged with child abuse after the March 2017 shooting death of his son, Landen.
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His wife, Wendy Lavarnia, is facing a murder charge in the boy’s death. She told police that her 2-year-old son accidently shot his older brother inside their Phoenix home.
Wendy Lavarnia committed child abuse by leaving a loaded handgun within the reach of a child and later withheld medical treatment that could have saved her son’s life, prosecutors said. She remains in custody.
Kansas Lavarnia previously told the Arizona Republic that the shooting was an accident and there was no delay in calling 911.
He also told the newspaper that he was with Landen on the bed when a shot rang out from behind them. The bullet hit Kansas Lavarnia in the arm, and one of the fragments hit the boy in the head.
Lavarnia told police he had felony convictions for drugs and burglary and could not possess firearms.
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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com
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