Man charged with manslaughter in 4-year-old son's death

By CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Staff Writer

RITZVILLE — An Othello man was charged Wednesday with first-degree manslaughter in the death of his 4-year-old son Feb. 27.

Felipe Tapia-Perez, 27, allegedly was handling a gun when it fired, striking the boy in the head. The boy died later that day.

Family and friends of the boy’s mother set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for medical and funeral expenses. As of Monday, $5,035 was raised. To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/2ao3fgdh6o?qid=effd27eb6f71f8c7c7412d0f51e62496.

Tapia-Perez went to Perla Arteaga-Ochoa’s home to pick up his three children, according to a statement of probable cause filed in superior court. The boy ran outside when he saw his dad drive up and was standing outside the driver’s door.

Tapia-Perez said he was sitting in his car looking at the gun, which allegedly was stolen when he bought it, and it went off. The bullet broke the window and struck the boy in the head. Tapia-Perez said he didn’t know the boy was standing beside the door.

Tapia-Perez told Othello police he was unfamiliar with firearms, the probable cause statement stated.

Othello police detective Jaime Mendoza said he spoke with agents of the U.S. Border Patrol, who said there was no record of Tapia-Perez having legally entered the country. Tapia-Perez told police he had come to the United States at five years of age and is not a U.S. citizen.

Tapia-Perez remains in the Adams County Jail. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday.