Dad of boy who was 4 when he killed neighbor, 6, gets prison

[mick silver]

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — The father of a boy who was 4 when he fatally shot a 6-year-old neighbor was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison after tearfully telling the court he's haunted by the shooting.
Anthony Senatore, 35, of Toms River, pleaded guilty last year to child endangerment for leaving his gun unlocked. He will serve up to 10 months in prison before becoming eligible for parole.
He was charged with keeping a loaded .22-caliber rifle unlocked in his bedroom, where his son found it in April 2013. The boy took it outside and shot Brandon Holt once in the head. The child died the next day.
"We could not have imagined that such a horrific event would occur," Senatore told the judge. "The torment of these thoughts will occupy me throughout my existence on this earth."
Senatore apologized to the Holt family and said he thinks about Brandon every day.
Christine Holt said she and her husband used to imagine what their son would be when he grew up. "Now we can only imagine what he could have been," she said.
She said she has recurring thoughts that she didn't do her duty as a mother.
"I couldn't protect him. I couldn't save him. It's my job. I would have given anything to do so," she said.


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View Comments (1012)

[madfranks]

What a sad story. It's too bad that more and more people are not responsible enough to own a gun.

[Twisted Titan]

That is truly a tragedy

Kids are incredibly smart...i shudder at the ingenuity my wee one has .

He probally never gave it a thought, had the rifle for years without much fanfare but his littele one is always watching.

Having something loaded for bear and a small one close by not good .


That being said im surprised they didnt give the dad 6000 years in prison.

[Neuro]

Yes very sad. I think 3 years in prison is quite reasonable in this case, nothing will get the boy back, nor the feeling of guilt of the father, nor a lessening of the grief of the family, but if you have guns and small children they should never be able to get their hands on a loaded weapon. Unfortunately his son will grow up during a considerable time without a father present. Very tragic!

[Dogman]

Yes very sad. I think 3 years in prison is quite reasonable in this case, nothing will get the boy back, nor the feeling of guilt of the father, nor a lessening of the grief of the family, but if you have guns and small children they should never be able to get their hands on a loaded weapon. Unfortunately his son will grow up during a considerable time without a father present. Very tragic!

Agree !

Some responsibility needs to be taken by the parents/adults in the kids life.

There is the "terrible" two's and terrible threes, they are too dam young to understand anything of life.

And if it can be got into it will be plundered.

To leave anything out that can fascinate a young one and they can get their hands on is a recipe for disaster..

So yes the parent should face up and pay the consequences.

TT is right those small minds are in hyper drive growing the kid can not be blamed, tho the parents should be. With kids parents need to understand that. Kids see and hear very well and most can connect the dots with no problem. Leaving a firearm, loaded and within reach and not locked up in a secure place and keys are not secured is asking for disaster. Hiding is not enough, when your backs are turned, believe me the kids are exploring and there is not a square inch of a house they will not get in.

If it can happen it probably will if the resources are handy to do so.

Seeing a life was taken which is sad, as Nero said it is reasonable and not excessive.

I just hope the young one that did it has learned a life lesson that sticks and abides by it.

[mick silver]

when the kids come home all guns are unloaded and put in safe