LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville father stood before a judge Friday morning after his 3-year-old daughter was able to get ahold of a loaded gun and fatally shoot herself.
E'Monta Goss was arrested Thursday after police said he admitted to loading his handgun and putting it under a couch before falling asleep. According to his arrest citation, Goss said he woke up after hearing a gunshot and found his daughter, Aubree, suffering from a gunshot wound.
The young girl was transported to Norton Children's Hospital where she later died.
In court Friday, his defense attorney addressed the circumstances of the shooting, saying Goss made the call to authorities after the shooting.
"He was the one that called for medical help, he's the one that called the ambulance, he was distraught about the condition of his child," his'attorney said. " I don't know how accurate any statement he would have gave under those circumstances."
Goss is charged with second-degree manslaughter and possession of a firearm as someone with a prior felony conviction.
The judge set his bond at $250,000. He will be back in court on Monday, Dec. 2.
According to court documents, that prior felony conviction came when Goss was charged as an adult when he was 14 for an armed robbery and home invasion in Michigan.
A local gun safety advocate said Goss' current case emphasizes the need for more gun education.
"Self defense is a right, and we should all be able to defend ourselves and have access to protection, however accountability and responsibility goes a long wat with everything," Khalid Raheem said. "We need to have more education on what it is to have a weapon, to have that power."
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