A Kansas father admits he left the gun behind before a toddler shot his sister
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
A Kansas father admitted to leaving a gun with his young daughters before his 3-year-old shot and killed his 1-year-old sister in the family’s Wichita home, according to court records and a police affidavit.
Michael Tejeda, 26, pleaded guilty last week to murder, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of child endangerment in connection with the February 2025 shooting, according to Sedgwick County court records.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped the aggravated manslaughter charge at the time of the crime.
The shooting happened on February 28 at the family’s home in Wichita. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Wichita-based ABC affiliate KAKE, Tejeda called 911 after the incident and told dispatchers that her older daughter had shot her younger daughter.
DC POLICE REPEAT 5 YEARS FOR TEENAGE SHOT IN TOP: ‘Unfortunate situation’
Kansas father Michael Tejeda (pictured) has pleaded guilty to shooting and killing his one-year-old daughter. (Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office)
Authorities say Tejeda later admitted to falling asleep watching the children while their mother was away. Investigators say he told police he was carrying a gun in a holster that did not properly protect the gun.
Tejeda told investigators that he eventually pulled out the gun and placed it on top of the fireplace above the living room before going into the bedroom to change clothes, according to the affidavit.
“I knew better, I should have put it somewhere else,” Tejeda told investigators, according to court documents.
LAWYER SAYS VIRGINIA SCHOOL FAILED TO WARN BEFORE 6-YEAR-OLD STUDENT WAS SHOT.
A view of South Santa Fe Street in Wichita, Kansas, where authorities said a shooting occurred in February 2025. (Google Maps)
Moments later, Tejeda told police she heard a loud noise and saw her three-year-old daughter crying before finding the one-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound to the head on the sofa in the living room.
“He went into the living room and found out [the 1-year-old] with a gunshot wound to the head while he was lying on the couch,” the affidavit said. “Tejeda said he found his gun lying on the couch next to [the child].”
Investigators said Tejeda admitted that her oldest daughter had shown curiosity about the gun before the shooting.
OHIO DAYCARE EMPLOYEE CONVICTED OF PHYSICAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN WAS SENTENCED TO YEARS IN PRISON.
Authorities said the shooting happened at the family’s home in Wichita, Kansas, on Feb. 28, 2025. (Getty Images)
The surviving child was then taken to a child welfare agency for evaluation, according to the affidavit. Authorities say the girl did not talk about the shooting during the interview.
Both prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to recommend an intermediate sentence under Kansas guidelines, with the sentences running consecutively, according to local NBC affiliate KSNW.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
Tejeda is expected to be sentenced on July 9.
Representatives for the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and the Wichita Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
