Man charged with manslaughter in 4-year-old son's death
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 6 months AGO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | March 9, 2021 1:00 AM
By CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Staff Writer
RITZVILLE — An Othello man was charged Wednesday with first-degree manslaughter in the death of his 4-year-old son Feb. 27.
Felipe Tapia-Perez, 27, allegedly was handling a gun when it fired, striking the boy in the head. The boy died later that day.
Family and friends of the boy’s mother set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for medical and funeral expenses. As of Monday, $5,035 was raised. To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/2ao3fgdh6o?qid=effd27eb6f71f8c7c7412d0f51e62496.
Tapia-Perez went to Perla Arteaga-Ochoa’s home to pick up his three children, according to a statement of probable cause filed in superior court. The boy ran outside when he saw his dad drive up and was standing outside the driver’s door.
Tapia-Perez said he was sitting in his car looking at the gun, which allegedly was stolen when he bought it, and it went off. The bullet broke the window and struck the boy in the head. Tapia-Perez said he didn’t know the boy was standing beside the door.
Tapia-Perez told Othello police he was unfamiliar with firearms, the probable cause statement stated.
Othello police detective Jaime Mendoza said he spoke with agents of the U.S. Border Patrol, who said there was no record of Tapia-Perez having legally entered the country. Tapia-Perez told police he had come to the United States at five years of age and is not a U.S. citizen.
Tapia-Perez remains in the Adams County Jail. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday.
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