The parents of 9-year-old Landen Lavarnia, who was fatally shot at their Phoenix home, are facing first-degree murder charges, court records show.
(AZCentral)- Police say there is evidence that Wendy and Kansas Lavarnia intentionally delayed calling 911 to clean up the bloody scene at their home Monday afternoon. Wendy Lavarnia told police her 2-year-old son shot his brother after she left the loaded gun on a bed.
Police are continuing to investigate her account and the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
“What we’ve learned through this investigation is that significant efforts were made to scrub the house clean and remove evidence while this young boy lay shot and dying,” said Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams at a press conference Wednesday.
The investigation “revealed what appears to be a substantial amount of blood cleanup that was done inside the home prior to emergency services being called to aid Landen,” police wrote in court documents. “Detectives found cleaned blood residue in the master bedroom, master bath, main bath, hallway and kitchen area and sinks.”
Any wipes or towels that were used to clean up the blood were not found at the residence. Police say trace amounts of blood were found in the family vehicle, as were two empty cans of stain remover.