Man Pleads Guilty In Deadly Shooting Of Fineview 2-Year-Old

FINEVIEW (KDKA) -- A 31-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the fatal shooting of his girlfriend's son.

Harrison Marshman of Sandusky Court appeared before a judge Monday and pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children.

Those charged stemmed from the September 2015 shooting death of two-year-old Josiah Taylor.  Marshman was watching the boy for his girlfriend, as he often did.

According to a statement issued by the Allegheny County District Attorney, the toddler was shot in the chest after Marshman had placed a loaded gun on the couch where he was sitting.

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Marshman told police that the child grabbed the gun twice, and that he took the gun away each time, "first to remove the ammunition clip and then to try and clear the live round that was in the chamber."

In his attempt to remove the live round, he pulled the trigger and struck Taylor in the chest. Marshman said the shooting was an accident, but police felt he was reckless enough to charge him.

A sentencing hearing has been set for Sept. 15.