A Port Vue police officer whose 5-year-old son fatally shot himself with his father's service weapon has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and other crimes in the boy's death.

Officer John Thompson, 38, surrendered this afternoon to Allegheny County Police, who also charged him with five counts of reckless endangerment and child endangerment -- one for each of his five children.

Mr. Thompson, who also is a part-time officer in Liberty, was released on his own recognizance after his arraignment.

"It's a tragic, horrible accident but not a criminal offense," said Mr. Thompson's attorney, Anthony DeLuca.

Four of Mr. Thompson's children were home Nov. 26, when, police said, Gavin Thompson climbed atop an office chair and retrieved the gun from a shelf in a bedroom closet.

Mr. Thompson told detectives he kept his service weapon and other guns there, according to a criminal complaint.

The boy died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Mr. Thompson told detectives he returned from a trip and stashed the .45-caliber Glock, still in its holster, on the first shelf of the closet. He said it was fully loaded and had one round in the chamber -- "ready to rock," the complaint says.

He also kept snacks and the children's Christmas gifts in the same closet, as well as another loaded handgun and an AR-15 rifle, police said.

Detectives said based on his height and the height of the shelf, Gavin "could have easily reached the first shelf utilizing the office chair that is kept at the computer desk in the bedroom to gain access to the closet shelf where Thompson kept his duty weapon."

First Published: January 19, 2011, 5:45 p.m.