A Cook County judge on Saturday ordered a South Shore father detained after authorities said he left a loaded handgun unattended where his sons played it and were shot.
The father, Derrick Taylor, 32, was not present for the detention hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building where he faced felony charges for child endangerment and felon possessing a firearm, according to court records. Taylor remained hospitalized for a mental health evaluation following his arrest on Thursday.
Authorities said that Taylor’s sons, Josiah Hooker, 8, and a 5-year-old found a loaded 9mm Smith and Wesson semiautomatic handgun on a television stand that Taylor had left unattended at the family home in the 1400 block of East 71st Place when they were both wounded around 5:20 p.m. on Thursday.
A sleeping Taylor was awakened by a loud noise and found Josiah with a gunshot to the head, according to police. Taylor picked up the boy and ran outside, seeking help from a neighbor, who called police. A mail carrier on her route performed CPR on the child until an ambulance arrived. Josiah and his brother were taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where the older boy was pronounced dead. His younger brother was listed in good condition. It wasn’t immediately clear which child fired the gunshot. Autopsy results for Josiah were delayed pending the police’s investigation.
Three other young children were at the home at the time but weren’t injured. Police recovered the empty handgun from the scene, police said. In 2011, Taylor pleaded guilty to a residential burglary charge and was legally unable to own a firearm, authorities said.
Taylor’s case will return to court on Monday.
