Michael Tejeda, 26, was sentenced Friday to nearly two decades in prison after his 3-year-old daughter used his handgun to shoot and kill her 1-year-old sister inside their Wichita home.
Background
The shooting occurred Feb. 28, 2025, at the family's residence on South Santa Fe Street. According to court records and an arrest affidavit obtained by Wichita-based ABC affiliate KAKE, Tejeda was watching his two daughters while their mother was away.
Tejeda told investigators he had fallen asleep with his handgun in a prop holster at his waistband — a holster he acknowledged had no retention and could allow the firearm to fall out if turned upside down. He said he removed the gun from his waistband and placed it on the mantel of the living room fireplace, which he estimated was about 4 feet tall.
I knew better, should've put it somewhere else, Tejeda told police after the shooting, according to the affidavit.
The Charges
Tejeda called 911 that night to report the shooting. He could be heard asking his 3-year-old why she did that, according to KAKE.
When he went into the living room, he found his 1-year-old with a gunshot wound to her head lying on the couch next to his firearm.
He was arrested in March 2025 and initially charged with first-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, and aggravated child endangerment. In May, Tejeda pleaded guilty to one count each of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, along with two counts of aggravated child endangerment.
Under the plea deal, prosecutors dropped the first-degree murder charge. Both the state and defense recommended a midrange sentence under Kansas guidelines with sentences running consecutively.
The Sentencing
Judge Chrystal Krier of the 18th Judicial District Court sentenced Tejeda on Friday to 19 years and nine months in prison for second-degree murder. He received additional consecutive sentences for the remaining charges, followed by 36 months of post-release supervision after completing his incarceration.
Tejeda had a prior felony conviction that led to the weapon possession charge. A forensic interview conducted at a child advocacy center following the shooting found the 3-year-old mostly interested in playing and did not discuss the incident.
Key Takeaways
- The shooting occurred Feb. 28, 2025, while the mother was away and Tejeda was supposed to be watching both children
- Investigators said the defendant previously acknowledged his daughter had been curious about the gun before the incident
- A first-degree murder charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement
- The sentences will run consecutively, meaning one after another
What's Next
Tejeda will begin serving his sentence immediately at a Kansas Department of Corrections facility. No appeal has been announced.