The father of a toddler who died after accidentally shooting herself in the family’s home last week has been charged with second-degree murder.Courteney Shaquel Block is also charged with child abuse, child endangerment, tampering with physical evidence and marijuana possession. Prosecutors asked that Block’s bail be increased to $250,000.According to court records, police came to the family’s home in the 2600 block of Lawn Avenue last week after Block ran outside holding his daughter. She was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and later died of her injuries.Block told police he had a loaded gun at his house that the girl got her hands on. Police said he told them that after she fired the gun, he hid it in a bathroom before running outside with the girl to get help.Police said they later found the gun in a bathroom vent.Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said she and her staff took a look at the totality of evidence in the case. She said it's time to take a stand."This is a preventable death. This should not have happened. This was not an accident," she said. "Children are not responsible for their safety. That's our job, your job and mine. We are simply holding people to account for that rule. Children can never be responsible for their own safety."Baker said gun locks are readily available for free. She said her office will hand them out, as does the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas City Police Department's East Patrol.The group Mothers in Charge KC is planning another door-to-door giveaway in the near future.

The father of a toddler who died after accidentally shooting herself in the family’s home last week has been charged with second-degree murder.

Courteney Shaquel Block is also charged with child abuse, child endangerment, tampering with physical evidence and marijuana possession. Prosecutors asked that Block’s bail be increased to $250,000.


According to court records, police came to the family’s home in the 2600 block of Lawn Avenue last week after Block ran outside holding his daughter. She was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and later died of her injuries.

Block told police he had a loaded gun at his house that the girl got her hands on. Police said he told them that after she fired the gun, he hid it in a bathroom before running outside with the girl to get help.

Police said they later found the gun in a bathroom vent.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said she and her staff took a look at the totality of evidence in the case. She said it's time to take a stand.

"This is a preventable death. This should not have happened. This was not an accident," she said. "Children are not responsible for their safety. That's our job, your job and mine. We are simply holding people to account for that rule. Children can never be responsible for their own safety."

Baker said gun locks are readily available for free. She said her office will hand them out, as does the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas City Police Department's East Patrol.

The group Mothers in Charge KC is planning another door-to-door giveaway in the near future.