He admitted that he accidentally shot his girlfriend, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

DUNEDIN – A Dunedin man has been arrested after he told deputies he accidentally shot his pregnant girlfriend and made up a story about a home invasion rather than admit he had done it, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Charles Douglas Tenpenny, 19, was charged with one count each of aggravated assault and false report of a crime. Tenpenny was also Baker Acted and will receive a mental health evaluation.

His girlfriend, Naomi Rosado, 18, who is about 20 weeks pregnant, remains in critical but stable condition at a local hospital.

Deputies were originally called to Tenpenny’s home about 1:03 p.m. Wednesday (July 18). Tenpenny told them that  he was in the home with Rosado when an unidentified man wearing all black walked into their home through their unlocked front door. Tenpenny said the man shot Rosado and fled on foot. (See related story here.)

Deputies learned that Tenpenny had tried to commit suicide at a residence in Dunedin on Friday (July 20). Detectives and deputies responded to the home and talked with Tenpenny after friends stopped him from hanging himself.

Tenpenny told detectives that he was distraught over accidentally shooting Rosado. He said that on Wednesday, he and Rosado were in their home on New York Avenue in Dunedin, when they had an argument over a Facebook friend request Rosado had received.

Deputies said Tenpenny admitted to pointing a loaded 9mm Glock handgun with a laser sight at Rosado while she was on the couch. Tenpenny said he was turning off the laser sight on the handgun when the gun accidentally went off. Detectives say a single round went through Rosado’s hand and struck her in the eye.

Tenpenny told detectives he was scared so he threw the handgun and the ammunition casing over the backyard fence into a wooded area. Tenpenny then called 911 and tried rendering aid to Rosado.

When deputies arrived, Tenpenny lied and told investigators that an unidentified intruder dressed in all black shot Rosado and fled on foot. Deputies said Tenpenny admitted to dealing in illegal drugs and said he always has a gun on him for protection.

Detectives returned to Tenpenny’s home on New York Avenue and recovered a Glock handgun.

Pinellas Sheriff | Crime | Arrests | Tampabay News

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