Father Now Facing Criminal Homicide Charge for Saturday's Shooting of His 6-Year-Old Son

An arrest warrant charging criminal homicide has now been issued against Steven Lamont Phillips for Saturday's shooting of his six-year-old son inside a home in the 3100 block of Qualynn Drive. The child was rushed to Vanderbilt in extremely critical condition suffering from a head wound. He died late Monday afternoon.

Phillips told detectives he fell asleep with a pistol in his pocket after playing with the child in the living room. He said he awoke to the sound of a gunshot and saw that the victim was wounded. He yelled for a relative to call 911. Officers recovered the gun from the living room floor.

Phillips was booked Sunday morning on charges of aggravated child neglect and unlawful gun possession by a convicted felon. He has prior felony convictions for attempted theft, aggravated robbery and gun possession.

The Youth Services Division is leading this investigation.