TOMS RIVER, N.J. – The father of a New Jersey boy who was 4 years old when he killed a 6-year-old neighbor with his father's gun has pleaded guilty to child endangerment.
Anthony Senatore, of Toms River, pleaded guilty Thursday and faces three years in prison.
The 35-year-old had rejected a plea bargain a year ago that would have carried a seven-year prison term.
Senatore was charged with keeping a loaded .22-caliber rifle unlocked in his bedroom. That's where his son found it in April 2013, took it outside and shot 6-year-old Brandon Holt once in the head.
He pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree child endangerment charge for having the rifle and four shotguns unsecured in his house near ammunition and third-degree child endangerment for Brandon's death.
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