Police charge father of 2-year-old who shot himself at Clive hotel charged

Luke Nozicka | The Des Moines Register

The father of a 2-year-old boy who shot himself with his parents' weapon earlier this month was charged after surrendering to police, authorities said.

Jonathan Hauser, 29, of Council Bluffs, turned himself in Saturday and was charged with child endangerment causing bodily injury, officials said.

Hauser was processed and released on a promise to appear at his next court date Sept. 4, Clive Police Chief Michael Venema said.

Officers responded to the shooting about 9:30 a.m. Aug. 19 at the Sterling Inn at 11428 Forest Ave.

The boy was taken to Blank Children’s Hospital after he shot himself in the neck and chest with his father’s unsecured handgun. In an update last week, police said the child was expected to leave the hospital soon.

A preliminary investigation indicated the boy and his family were staying at the inn and the boy’s father left a loaded, unsecured .45-caliber handgun in a piece of luggage, police said. He has a permit to carry a weapon issued by Pottawattamie County.

The boy picked up the weapon and pulled the trigger. The bullet entered his upper chest, passed through his neck and is believed to have lodged in a wall, authorities said.

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