Crawfordsville man arrested after 2-year-old left unattended in car fires loaded weapon

A Crawfordsville man was taken into custody Friday after two young children were left unattended in a vehicle outside the Marshall County Division of Children's Services office — and a 2-year-old inside the car gained access to a loaded firearm and discharged it.

Plymouth Police Department officers were dispatched at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Friday to the parking lot at 2125 North Oak Drive after a report that two children, ages 2 and 9, had been left alone in a vehicle while their parent was inside attending a meeting at the Marshall County Office of Division of Children's Services.

While unattended, the 2-year-old child accessed a loaded firearm and fired one round, which struck the windshield of the vehicle. Fortunately, neither child was injured, and no other property damage was reported.

Aaron Lee, 34, of Crawfordsville, was taken into custody and preliminarily charged with Neglect of a Dependent, a Level 6 Felony.

Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is a mere allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.