Police: Conflicting stories from father of girl fatally shot

CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities say the father of a 3-year-old Chandler girl who died after being shot in the abdomen gave two different versions of what happened when interviewed by police.

Court documents released Monday show 33-year-old Eric Sands originally told police he was cleaning a shotgun in a bedroom when his daughter bumped into him.

But Sands later said he wasn’t cleaning the shotgun and had placed it on a bed when it discharged.

Sands remains jailed on suspicion of being a prohibited person possessing a weapon and possession of a dangerous drug. Polices say they found methamphetamine in his home.

A $10,000 bond was Monday at his initial court appearance, where he didn’t have an attorney.

Sands’ daughter was shot last Thursday night and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

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