Ohio Father Faces Charges in Teen's Fatal Shooting
An Ohio father was taken into custody last week following an incident where his teenage son is accused of fatally shooting an 11-year-old cousin.
Matthew Seymour, 33, was arrested by Columbus police on Friday. He faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering children.
The tragic event took place on December 5th at a residence on South Wheatland Avenue in the Hilltop area.
Seymour's teenage son has been charged with reckless homicide. Prosecutors state the shooting resulted in the death of Amya Frazier.
Speaking after his son's initial court appearance, Seymour told reporters, "My son made a mistake, and he's going to pay for it — and he's probably not the only one who's going to pay for it."
Seymour described waking around 3:30 a.m. on December 5th to barking dogs. He retrieved a firearm from a secured container to investigate but found no intruders.
"I placed the gun on top of a mini fridge on the floor and forgot about it," he explained. "I went to pick up my niece and take her to the house. Then I went to my grandfather's home."
Later that morning, Seymour received a call informing him his son had "shot a friend." He soon learned the victim was his niece.
Court proceedings revealed that approximately 10 to 11 children were present in the home during the shooting.
According to prosecutors, the 14-year-old manipulated the firearm's hammer and trigger twice. The first attempt produced only a clicking sound, but the second discharge resulted in the fatal shot.
Seymour remains detained at the Franklin County Jail as legal proceedings continue.
