Police: 2-year-old girl fatally shot at Ohio home

PATASKALA, Ohio (AP) —

The father of a 2-year-old girl who police say was fatally shot at an Ohio home is facing child endangerment charges.

Pataskala Police deputy chief Michael Boals said officers responded to reports of a shooting around 11 a.m. Saturday. The girl, Noelle Massuros, was transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital but did not survive her injuries, police said.

She was accidentally shot by her 6-year-old brother who found a gun that was left out at their Pataskala home, according to a 911 call. Police have not confirmed the details of the call and said in a statement Monday that they hadn’t yet identified the shooter.

A woman who identified herself as the girl’s mother, Mary Massuros, told the dispatcher that her son found the gun left out. She later said her husband, 41-year-old Jason Massuros, regularly left loaded guns in the house, according to court documents.

During the 911 call, Mary Massuros said she heard a noise about two hours earlier, but she didn’t realize what had happened at the time. She said her daughter turned 2 years old the day before the shooting.

After police arrived at the home, Jason Massuros barricaded himself in the basement with an AR-15 and threatened to harm himself, according to court documents. He negotiated with police for several hours until he was tasered and arrested.

He was charged with endangering children and is being held on a $500,000 bond, the Newark Advocate reported.

Licking County Assistant Prosecutor Jenny Gonzalez-Wells said she expects a grand jury to review additional charges next week. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 26.

Licking County court records don’t show an attorney for Jason Massuros.