Accidental shooting leaves one boy dead, the other in jail

A Greeley family is dealing with a double tragedy Saturday. One of their sons is dead, the other is in jail–even though police say the death is an accident.

The boy found his brother Jordan Limas’ 22-caliber semi-automatic handgun inside their house at 4237 Grand Teton Dr. near Evans at approximately 5:25 p.m. Friday.

 Eleven-year-old Andre was headed outside with it, when his big brother intervened.

“He attempted to get the handgun back away from the 11-year-old and told him it was not a toy. Then there was a struggle that ensued over the pistol and the gun went off,” said Sgt. Tim Schwartz with the Weld County Sheriff’s Office.

A single bullet pierced the boy’s chest, killing him. The coroner ruled the death was an accident.

“Never in our wildest dreams would we even think that Jordan would be capable of doing anything purposely like that,” said David Limas, the boys’ father.

But it doesn’t mean his son is in the clear. Investigators are charging him with criminally negligent homicide.

“It truly was accidental. He did not intend for the gun to go off. He did not intend to shoot the victim. But because he left the weapon where an 11-year old could get to it, that’s negligence,” said Sgt. Schwartz.

At 18-years-old, Limas legally can buy a gun, but only through a private seller. His father apparently didn’t even know the gun was under his own roof.

“What I do want to make clear is that in our household, firearms were never permitted. We made it loud and clear to all my kids,” said Limas.

And now his family must come to grips with how everything changed last night–a family of four kids, is now just three.

“We have to accept the fact our little one is in heaven now. But we’ve got to focus on being here for our son Jordan,” said Limas.

Jordan Limas is being held on $30,000 bond. If convicted of criminally negligent homicide, he faces one to three years in prison. He could face an additional charge, yet Sgt. Schwartz said it is not a gun charge.