Father Arrested In Bayville in Connection With 4-Year-Old's Fatal Shooting Of 6-Year-Old

A Toms River man has been charged with having multiple unsecured weapons accessible to his 4-year-old son when he fatally shot 6-year-old Brandon Holt, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor James P. McClain announced Monday night, May 13.

Anthony Senatore, 33, was arrested around 6:30 Monday night by detectives from the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, McClain said. Senatore was arrested at a residence in Bayville, according to McClain.

He was charged with five counts of second degree endangering the welfare of children and one count of third degree endangering the welfare of children, as well as a disorderly person's offense for enabling access by minors to a loaded firearm.

Senatore's 4-year-old son shot and killed Holt on April 8 with an unsecured .22 caliber rifle that he obtained in Senatore's bedroom. He fired a single shot, which struck Holt in the head.

Holt was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where he was declared dead on April 9.

The investigation of the case was moved from Ocean County to Atlantic County by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General to avoid any possible conflict in the case.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes, Crimes Against Children and Forensics units conducted the investigation, which resulted in Senatore's arrest.

The investigation concluded that in addition to the rifle, a Stevens 12-gauge shotgun, two Harrington & Richardson shotguns and a Remington 12-gauge shotgun were also unsecured, in close proximity to ammunition and accessible to Senatore's three children, ages 12, 8 and 4.

Senatore was charged with one count second degree endangering the welfare of children for each of the unsecured firearms found accessible to each of his own children, each of whom he has a legal duty to take care of, McClain said. The third-degree charge stems from the .22 caliber rifle being accessible to his four-year-old son, thus endangering Holt's safety.

Senatore was lodged in Ocean County Jail on $100,000 cash or bond bail set by Superior Court Judge Kryan Connor.