In a tragic incident in Allentown, a young boy lost his life after accidentally shooting himself with his father's loaded gun. The Lehigh County District Attorney has since confirmed that charges have been filed against the boy's father.

The incident occurred on March 28, when a distressed woman placed a call to emergency services reporting that her 3-year-old son had shot himself in the chest. Authorities swiftly responded to the residence located on the 900 block of Hamilton Street.

Upon arrival, law enforcement officials discovered the young victim, identified as 3-year-old Elijah Abreu Borgen, with a gunshot wound to his torso. The child was immediately rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest, but unfortunately, he was pronounced dead upon arrival. Authorities have ruled his death as accidental.

Investigators uncovered that the child's father, 28-year-old Jose Hilario Abreu, had kept a loaded Glock 19 semi-automatic handgun inside the home while both Elijah and a 2-year-old sibling were present. According to the criminal complaint, Abreu admitted to placing the weapon under the sofa where the two toddlers were seated before leaving the room.

Further analysis by investigators revealed that the gun had a live cartridge in its chamber and was resting on top of a pillow on the couch. Abreu claimed that while he was in a separate room, he heard a loud noise and quickly returned to find his son suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Abreu has been taken into custody and has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of children, and violating a duty of care that created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to a child aged 6 and younger. He was arraigned on Friday, and his bail has been set at $250,000 cash. Abreu has been remanded to the Lehigh County Jail.

The Lehigh County Public Defender's Office is representing Abreu in his case; however, specific details regarding his legal representation have not been disclosed in court records.

This devastating incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible firearm ownership and the immense dangers that can arise when firearms are left unsecured, especially in the presence of young children. The investigation will continue as authorities aim to ensure justice is served in this tragic case.