CEDAR RAPIDS – An Iowa man is facing federal charges after a 4-year-old boy got his gun and shot himself in the head.
Daniel Henriksen, 29, from Elgin, Iowa, has been charged with one count of possessing a firearm while an unlawful user of marijuana. The charge is contained in a complaint unsealed today in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The complaint alleges that, on or about June 17, 2016, law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel responded to Henriksen’s home in Elgin after receiving a 911 call reporting that a four-year-old boy had shot himself in the head. Once at the residence, they located a child suffering from a gunshot wound to his head. The child was transported to Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union, Iowa, where he was later pronounced dead.
The complaint also alleges that during the investigation of the child’s death, investigators determined that Henriksen was the owner of the firearm used in the shooting, which was a Glock 36, .45 caliber handgun. During a search of Henriksen’s residence, officers seized several items of drug paraphernalia, including marijuana smoking devices. Several of these items were analyzed at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory and tested positive for marijuana.
If convicted, Henriksen faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Henriksen appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was released on bond. Henriksen’s next appearance for an arraignment will be set at a future time.
This headline is once again misleading or at best a generalization. This guy is being charged correctly but for almost anybody who commits a crime a headline could say “…charges against a drinker or smoker”. His marijuana use had little to do with what happened.
The issue is why was a loaded gun in the reach of a youngster.
Especially since it is illegal to keep a gun unsecured in a home with children. I’m guessing they’re going after super dad on drug charges because it carries a heavier sentence but he needs to serve time for the unsecured time as well.
Please show us where it says that is illegal to keep a gun unsecured in home with children. Where did you come up with your information?
Thank you for challenging this post. 90% of the comments here are regurgitated misinformation, wishful thinking or poison dart being thrown.
Iowa Code § 724.22(7)
“It shall be unlawful for any person to store or leave a loaded firearm which is not secured by a trigger lock mechanism, placed in a securely locked box or container, or placed in some other location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure from a minor under the age of fourteen years”
http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/cool-ice/default.asp?category=billinfo&service=iowacode&input=724.22
That good enough for you?
No. “Loaded” is the key word.
“No. “Loaded” is the key word”
Ok Einstein, so you’re suggesting this four year old put a magazine in super dads glock, racked the slide and THEN shot himself in the face? Maybe you should just admit you didn’t know what you were talking about?
Pot Heads are not smart!
I’m for legalization. But throw the book at this guy.
Just another way to vilify anyone that uses a plant. I could understand if he was completely bombed and not supervising the child but I doubt that’s the case.