JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville man is facing charges in relation to the death of a toddler killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound Sunday afternoon.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, 36-year-old Alexander Sibley was arrested and charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. He appeared before a judge Monday, who set his bond at $150,000.
During court proceedings, it was revealed that Sibley has an 18-page criminal history, including trafficking cocaine and suspended licenses. He was assigned a public defender.
Police said the 3-year-old boy shot himself in the head around 12:45 p.m. Sunday at a home on Crimson Leaf Lane in the Oakhill area. Sibley was booked into jail around 8 p.m., according to JSO's jail records.
Adults were present in the home at the time of the shooting, officials said. The initial investigation indicated no signs of foul play.
During a briefing to the media on the incident, JSO Lt. Stronko encouraged community members to secure their firearms in a safe place and practice proper gun safety.
Sibley's next court date was set for April 26.
First Coast News spoke with Katie Hathaway, from Moms Demand Action Jacksonville. It is a safety advocacy group that's been promoting gun safety measures for years.
Hathaway doesn't consider the boy's death an accident, explaining, "I call these shootings preventable. They are not accidents. They can be prevented with secure storage in the home and vehicles to prevent children from accessing unsecured, loaded firearms."
We are working to confirm Alexander's relationship to the child. He has not been charged with any crime directly related to the child's death.
A neighbor tells First Coast News while the shooting was tragic, there needs to be accountability. "I do think the individual who had the gun out, in the sight of that child, I do think he should pay the consequences for what has happened," the unnamed woman said.
Florida law requires firearms that could potentially be accessed by a minor to be kept in a locked box, a secure location, or secured with a trigger lock.
A source tells First Coast News the gun was in a bedroom and not secured.
Hathaway says her message her simple. "It's a wake-up call. These tragedies are almost happening daily across our country, and we need responsible gun ownership. With gun ownership, it comes with responsibility, and it's always on the adults to keep their firearms secured in the home."