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The older boy,
whose name was withheld, found a loaded revolver on top of a
refrigerator and shot little brother Eian Santiago on Saturday
while their father was at work, police and the Cook County
Medical Examiner's office said.
The father, Michael Santiago, 25, told police he was a former
street gang member and bought the gun from a gang member for
protection. He had testified for the prosecution in a murder
trial of another gang member, according to local media reports.
Santiago did not enter a plea during the brief hearing and his
next court date was set for Nov. 9, according to the Cook County
State's Attorney's office. Santiago, who is free on bond, faces
up to five years in prison if convicted.
When the shooting happened, the boys were in the care of their
grandfather while their father was at work and their mother at a
store.
"Both Michael and Angelita are devastated and are struggling to
cope with the death of their son," Santiago's attorneys said in
a statement. "They are facing something no parent would want to
face."
(Reporting by Mary Wisniewski and Nikitta Foston in Chicago;
Editing by Sandra Maler)
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