Update: Mom Charged with Killing Toddler Son

A 26-year-old Slatington mother is charged with shooting to death her 19-month-old son while he was in his crib.

Holly Pallone, of 214 N. Walnut St., is charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment.

Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim said the toddler, Anthony F. Pallone, was pronounced dead at the residence at 214 N. Walnut St. at 12:47 a.m. Sunday. The coroner ruled the death a homicide and attributed his death to a gunshot wound.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

According to the arrest affidavit:

* Holly Pallone called 9-1-1 at 11:53 p.m. Saturday and said, "There was a gun and it went off and hit my son in the forehead."

* When police arrived, they found the toddler dead in a Pack-and-Play crib with a wound to his forehead. The coroner later officially pronounced him dead.

* The gun, a Smith & Wesson .44 caliber, belonged to Lloyd Peters, who rented the apartment but was not home at the time. Holly Pallone told police she was planning to sell the gun to a man she knows as "Low" of Allentown, from whom she used to purchase drugs. He was coming to the apartment later that night or early morning.

* As she prepared to sell the gun, she sat on her bed, next to her son's crib. Pallone, who was unfamiliar with guns, told police that when she attempted to unload the bullets, she apparently cocked the hammer and the gun went off. A bullet struck the toddler in his crib.

Pallone was arraigned before District Judge Michael D'Amore of Allentown and sent to Lehigh County Prison in lieu of $1 million bail, according to online court records.

Her preliminary hearing is set for 3 p.m. on Oct. 15.