Father admits leaving handgun within reach of young daughters before toddler fatally shot baby sister

A Kansas begetter admitted helium near a handgun wrong scope of his young daughters earlier his 3-year-old kid fatally changeable her 1-year-old sister wrong the family’s Wichita home, according to tribunal records and a constabulary affidavit.

Michael Tejeda, 26, pleaded blameworthy past week to second-degree murder, transgression possession of a limb by a convicted felon and 2 counts of aggravated kid endangerment successful transportation with the February 2025 shooting, according to Sedgwick County tribunal records.

As portion of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped a much superior complaint of first-degree execution committed during the committee of a felony.

The shooting happened Feb. 28 astatine the family’s location successful Wichita. According to an apprehension affidavit obtained by Wichita-based ABC affiliate KAKE, Tejeda called 911 aft the shooting and told dispatchers his older girl had changeable his younger daughter.

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Kansas begetter Michael Tejeda (pictured) pleaded blameworthy successful the fatal shooting of his 1-year-old daughter. (Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office)

Authorities said Tejeda aboriginal admitted helium had fallen dormant portion watching the children portion their parent was distant from the home. Investigators said helium told constabulary helium had been carrying a handgun successful a prop holster that did not decently unafraid the firearm.

Tejeda told investigators helium yet removed the handgun and placed it connected the mantel supra the surviving country fireplace earlier going into a chamber to alteration clothes, according to the affidavit.

"I knew better, should've enactment it determination else," Tejeda told investigators, according to tribunal documents.

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A presumption of South Santa Fe Street successful Wichita, Kansas, wherever authorities said the shooting happened successful February 2025. (Google Maps)

Moments later, Tejeda told constabulary helium heard a large bang and saw his 3-year-old girl crying earlier discovering the 1-year-old suffering from a gunshot coiled to the caput connected a sofa successful the surviving room.

"He went into the surviving country and recovered [the 1-year-old] with a gunshot coiled to her caput portion she was lying connected the couch," the affidavit states. "Tejeda said helium recovered his firearm lying connected the sofa adjacent to [the child]."

Investigators said Tejeda acknowledged his older girl had antecedently shown curiosity astir the firearm earlier the shooting.

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Authorities said the shooting happened astatine a household location successful Wichita, Kansas, connected Feb. 28, 2025. (Getty Images)

The surviving kid was aboriginal taken to a kid advocacy halfway for a forensic interview, according to the affidavit. Authorities said the miss did not sermon the shooting during the interview.

Both prosecutors and defence attorneys are expected to urge a midrange condemnation nether Kansas guidelines, with the sentences moving consecutively, according to section NBC affiliate KSNW.

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Tejeda is scheduled to beryllium sentenced July 9.

Representatives for some the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Wichita Police Department did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital’s petition for comment.