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Dad aims loaded gun at 8-year-old stepdaughter while mom is away, Indiana cops say

An Indiana dad is accused of aiming a loaded gun at his 8-year-old stepdaughter, police say.
An Indiana dad is accused of aiming a loaded gun at his 8-year-old stepdaughter, police say. Getty images/iStock photo

An Indiana father is accused of aiming a loaded gun at his 8-year-old stepdaughter while her mother wasn’t home, police say.

The 24-year-old was watching his three children at his home in Owensville on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 8, when there was “an incident,” Indiana State Police said in a news release.

McClatchy News is not identifying the man to protect the identity of the child.

Investigators say the man “struck” his stepdaughter, then “pointed a loaded firearm” at her.

The girl’s mom was away at the time, according to officials, and it’s unclear how police learned what happened, but charges were filed against the man a short time later and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

He turned himself in to police at 12:30 p.m. the next day, Sept. 9, and was arrested, officials said.

Police didn’t say what, if anything, motivated the man to attack and threaten the girl.

He’s facing three felony charges including domestic battery, neglect of a dependent and pointing a firearm at another person, according to police.

Owensville is a roughly 160-mile drive southwest from Indianapolis.

If you suspect a child has experienced, is currently experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect, your first step should be to contact the appropriate agency. The Child Welfare Information Gateway has a list of state agencies you can contact. Find help specific to your area here.

For additional help, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline has professional crisis counselors available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 170 languages. All calls are confidential. The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. You can call or text 1-800-422-4453.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, please call 911 for help.

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This story was originally published September 10, 2024 at 11:47 AM with the headline "Dad aims loaded gun at 8-year-old stepdaughter while mom is away, Indiana cops say."

MW
Mitchell Willetts
The State
Mitchell Willetts is a real-time news reporter covering the central U.S. for McClatchy. He is a University of Oklahoma graduate and outdoors enthusiast living in Texas.
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