CA Illegal hides gun in garage causes death of toddler

Man arrested after accidental fatal shooting of 2-year-old East Palo Alto boy
By Lisa Krieger Mercury News
Posted: 01/10/2009 01:46:38 PM PST

East Palo Alto resident Sergio Sanchez, 33, has been charged by police in connection with the accidental shooting of a toddler on January 8.
Sanchez, a previously deported felon, has been charged by East Palo Alto Police with possession of a firearm, storing a firearm in a place accessible by children, and a probation violation. He has been booked into the San Mateo County Jail.
Under California law, authorities can hold gun owners responsible for a death if they leave a weapon in an area that is accessible to children.
The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office is also reviewing possible charges of child endangerment.
In an interview with officers, Sanchez expressed sincere remorse and said he accepted full responsibility for the incident, which killed 2-year-old Andrew Grewe.
Sanchez went to the Palo Alto Police Department on Friday, saying he had received cell phone messages and seen media coverage saying he was wanted for questioning. He was delivered to the East Palo Alto Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division, where he was interviewed and arrested.
Officers said Sanchez had left the gun at a house where he had been living temporarily. Police believe he is employed at a Palo Alto-based 7Eleven store. The child, son of Star Grewe of Bedford, TX, was living at his grandmother's house on the 2200 block of Menalto Avenue of East Palo Alto to get treatment at Stanford Hospital for a medical condition
due to his premature birth.
According to his mother, the child was in a neighbor's garage at 11:10 a.m. when he was shot by a 12-year-old relative who was playing with a small rifle that he thought was a toy. Andrew was shot in the chest, rushed to the hospital and declared dead at about 11:45 p.m.
In a Friday interview with The Palo Alto Daily News, Grewe said "The gun part of it was an accident...They didn't know it was a real gun.''
The 12-year-old boy and five of his siblings are in the custody of Child Protective Services, police said. Police ask anyone with more information call the East Palo Alto Tip Line, (650) 853-8477.