In a heart-wrenching incident in Allentown, Pennsylvania, 3-year-old Elijah Abreu Borgen lost his life on March 28, 2024, after sustaining a gunshot wound to the torso. The tragic event unfolded at a residence on East Hamilton Street, where Allentown police responded to a report of a shooting. Emergency services found Elijah with life-threatening injuries and transported him to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, where he was pronounced dead.
The subsequent investigation revealed a story
of negligence that led to the devastating loss of a young life. Jose Hilario Abreu, 28, had left a loaded Glock 19 semi-automatic handgun unattended in a room with Elijah and another 2-year-old child. Abreu initially told investigators that he had placed the firearm under the sofa where the two toddlers were sitting before he left the room. He reported hearing a loud noise and returning to find Elijah with a gunshot wound to the chest. However, evidence suggested the unholstered gun was resting on a pillow on the couch where the children were. A gunshot residue test performed on Elijah's hands yielded a presumptive positive result. The Lehigh County Coroner's Office ruled the death an accident.
In the wake of the tragedy, Jose Hilario Abreu was arrested and faced serious charges. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter of a victim under 12 years of age and two counts of endangering the welfare of children. In December 2024, Abreu pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child. The plea agreement recommended a minimum jail sentence of 18 to 30 months.
