A Middletown man has had his charges upgraded to involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of his son last month in their apartment.
The Bucks County District Attorney s Office said in a news release Wednesday that investigators determined Jorddan Thornton s 2-year-old son accessed a loaded firearm and shot himself in the head with it on Dec. 2.
County detectives and Middletown police had been trying to determine how Thornton s son was shot since the incident occurred.
Thornton is charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering child welfare, both of which are felonies. Previously he had only been charged with endangering as the investigation continued.
Bucks County Courier Times
About Chris: I am a 2015 Penn State graduate who grew up in Doylestown. After spending four years reporting on crime and public safety in York County, I returned to the area to do that same reporting in Bucks County in late 2019. I currently live in Ambler, Montgomery County.
Hidden talent: I can determine what day of the week a date landed on pretty quick. I was the only reporter in the courtroom during the hearing, and as a result I was the only one to write about the impact the loss of Sharif Simpson had on his family. Hearing their victim impact statements was really moving. What happened to Sharif was tragic, and I could see how his family was devastated by his sudden absence in their lives. I think the story resonated with readers, as well as family and friends of Sharif. It was one of my most-shared stories on social media that day.