Father enters guilty plea in shooting death of child
The father of 5-year-old Giovanni Kopystenski, who died in 2009 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, pleaded guilty to child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm last week.
Alex Kopystenski of Las Vegas faces two to 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 23 before District Judge Jessie Walsh.
Authorities say Giovanni was in his father’s car on July 20, 2009, outside a Walgreens drive-through lane at Durango Drive and Warm Springs Road when the child picked up a loaded handgun. The boy suffered a single gunshot wound to the head.
Giovanni, who was autistic, was pronounced dead at a hospital.