Man charged in death of 2-year-old boy in St. Paul apartment
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A man accused of leaving an unattended gun in a St. Paul apartment where a 2-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed himself is facing two charges, according to court documents released Monday.
Earl Williams, 39, is charged in Ramsey County District Court with manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm in the death of Jayse Wilson. Williams turned himself in to authorities on Friday.
Documents show that one of the victim's sisters was watching television in the living room on Wednesday afternoon when she heard a loud bang. Williams told her to stay where she was before he began pacing between the bedroom and kitchen, the complaint said.
The boy's mother told authorities she had received a “frantic phone call” from Williams, who told her she needed to come home. Police believe Williams then fled to Iowa.
Before Williams left the apartment, he told the girl to call 911. The girl ran to check on her brother and found him in a pool of blood on the floor of the bathroom, where Williams allegedly left the gun. Jayse Wilson died in an ambulance on the way to a hospital.
Williams isn’t allowed to possess firearms or ammunition due to prior felonies, including drug possession and delivery, attempted armed robbery with a gun and aggravated sexual assault.
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