The New Jersey father of a four-year-old who shot and killed his six-year-old neighbor pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges of child endangerment as he kept unsecured firearms in his home, resulting in his son gaining access to his gun and shooting his neighbor in the head.

The father was identified as 35-year-old Anthony R. Senatore and Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced that Senatore will be serving three years behind bars as part of a bargain plea.

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His sentence will be served on February 5 next year and he is ordered to surrender all of his guns as well as his firearms purchaser ID card. The plea deal shortened the initial duration of him being jailed, which was supposedly for seven years.

The New Jersey native reportedly had a loaded .22 caliber rifle which his young son gained access to, accidentally shooting his playmate Brandon Holt in the head on April 8, 2013. The two boys were said to be playing in the yard of Senatore's home when his son opened fire. Holt was rushed to the Jersey Shore University Medical Center but died the next day.

Senatore was indicted in September 2013 by the Ocean County Superior Court and charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of children. The charges were based on the quantity of guns found in his home as well as the death of his son's friend.

According to officials, Senatore had a total of five unsecured guns all of which were easily accessible to his children.

He was in possession of the .22 caliber rifle, a Stevens 12-gauge shotgun, two Harrington & Richardson shotguns, and a Remington 12-gauge shotgun. His children were said to be ages 12, 8, and 4 when the incident happened. 

TagsNew Jersey man, Father, Anthony Senatore, pleaded guilty, son killed 6-year-old playmate, Atlantic County Prosecutor, Ocean County Superior Court, plea deal, plea agreement, three years behind bars, guns, shooting, child shooting