UPDATE, 4/27: The 24-year-old man whose daughter shot herself in their residence will now face a murder charge, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Bake announced Wednesday.
Courtenay Block now faces second-degree murder or felony murder, abuse of a child, endangering the welfare of a child, tampering with physical evidence and possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana.
Block is currently being held in the Jackson County Detention Center. Prosecutors have requested Block's bond be increased from $150,000 to $250,000.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A Kansas City man has been charged in connection to the shooting death of his two-year-old daughter.
Courtenay Shaquel Block, 24, charge's include child endangerment, tampering with physical evidence and child endangerment.
.@kcpolice & @jeanpetersbaker at scene of shooting of child 26th Lawn. Child died of apparent gunshot wound. pic.twitter.com/kn1ULQv6Y5
— chiefforte (@ChiefForte) April 21, 2016
Kansas City, Missouri, police responded to the 2600 block of Lawn Avenue on reports of the shooting on Thursday afternoon.
When police arrived, they found Block holding 2-year-old Shaquille Kornegay. She had apparently been shot in the head, court records say.
The toddler was taken to a local hospital in critical condition where she later died.
"This homicide was 100 percent preventable," Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said. "This is tragic. We must do a better job of protecting our most vulnerable, our children."
The Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound.
According to court records, Block heard Kornegay crying and saw his loaded handgun on the floor next to her. He picked up the gun and walked to the bathroom to hide it, court records say.
He walked outside with the toddler and notified a neighbor who called police. Officers found the handgun in a bathroom floor vent covered by a child's t-shirt, court records show.
“I was sitting on the couch and I heard the shot you know since it’s like right next door to me and I’m laying on my couch and it’s right in the living room and when I come out you know he’s already on the porch you know I can hear him hollering from my living room,” said neighbor Vincent Candy who says he called 911.
“He was distraught I mean you know from what I understand how you know what he was saying was that he was asleep,” said one neighbor told 41 Action News.
Prosecutors have requested a $150,000 bond for Block.
The case remains under investigation.
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