A Kansas man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and other charges after his 3-year-old daughter fatally shot her 1-year-old sister with a handgun left accessible in their Wichita home.
Michael Tejeda, 26, entered the plea last week in Sedgwick County court to one count of second-degree murder, one count of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and two counts of aggravated child endangerment. Prosecutors dropped a first-degree murder charge as part of the agreement. The shooting occurred on February 28, 2025, when Tejeda left the gun on a fireplace mantel after falling asleep while watching the children. His older daughter retrieved the weapon and fired it, striking her sister in the head. Tejeda called 911 and later told police he knew he should have stored the firearm elsewhere. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, with both sides expected to request a midrange term under state guidelines served consecutively.