Philadelphia Man Charged With Manslaughter For Son's Death, Allegedly Made Up Home Invasion Story

KEY POINTS

Philadelphia police were called about an alleged home invasion and shooting around 1 a.m. Thursday
Officers found Edward Williams Jr., 4, who was later declared dead from a gunshot wound after being rushed to a nearby hospital
Edward's father, Edward Williams Sr., was arrested after allegedly telling police he made up the story about the home invasion and his son accidentally shot himself

A Philadelphia father was charged Friday for the death of his 4-year-old son after allegedly saying he died during a home invasion.

Edward Williams Sr., 28, made his first court appearance Friday for arraignment on charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, child endangerment, tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice and drug counts. The judge set Williams bail at $2 million.

Police arrived at Williams’ home around 1 a.m. Thursday after being called about an alleged home invasion. Officers said there was no sign of forced entry when they arrived and found Williams holding his younger son. They then found the body Williams’ older son, Edward Williams Jr., upstairs with a gunshot wound and rushed him to the hospital.

Edward was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

Police began questioning Williams’ story as they investigated the house and found no signs of a robbery. Investigators also found a 9mm handgun that had been fired in one of the closets.

Capt. Sekou Kinebrew, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Police Department, said Williams allegedly admitted there hadn’t been a home invasion and Edward had accidentally shot himself. Williams was reportedly home and asleep while the boys’ mother was at work when they found the gun.

Police suspected Edward was messing around with the gun when it discharged and killed him.

Kinebrew said the gun wasn’t stolen, but it wasn’t legally registered to Williams. Williams wasn’t allowed to have a gun due to previous arrests.