Thomas Noel Pauza-Moore
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CANDID ID: MN_23_1853
AGE
3   years
STATE
Minnesota
DATE OF DEATH
8/8/2023
STATE REPORTS
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On August 8, 2023, three-year-old Thomas Noel Pauza-Moore fatally shot himself in the head with an unsecured, loaded SIG 9mm pistol in his father's bedroom in Hinckley, Pine County, Minnesota. Thomas' father, Roy Dean Pauza-Moore (age 26), was downstairs playing video games while Thomas was upstairs watching movies on his father's phone. When the phone's battery started dying, the father sent Thomas to the bedroom to charge it. The father and his roommate heard a loud noise and found Thomas bleeding next to the bed with the gun on the floor beside him. Police found the pistol had been stored on an open shelf atop an unlocked gun safe, and Thomas had previously knocked over the gun safe. Additional unsecured firearms, including a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, were accessible to the child. The family had a prior history with child protective services, including reports of domestic violence and negligent supervision by the father. Thomas' parents had recently separated, and his mother had previously warned the father about securing firearms. The father was charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter, child endangerment by firearm access, and negligent storage of firearms; he pleaded guilty to child endangerment and received 150 days in jail.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

All three documents describe a firearm incident. The vital record (MN_23_1853-1.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Gunshot Wound Of The Head" with injury description "Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound (Loaded Handgun Left In The Presence Of Unsupervised Toddler)." The Safe Passage report describes a "semi-automatic pistol on top of an unlocked gun safe" and additional unsecured firearms in the home. The news article details the SIG 9mm pistol found on an open shelf and a loaded 12-gauge shotgun accessible to the child.

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

The vital record (MN_23_1853-1.pdf) describes the injury as "Loaded Handgun Left In The Presence Of Unsupervised Toddler." The Safe Passage report states "Thomas' father stated that he was downstairs playing video games while Thomas was watching movies on his father's phone upstairs in the bedroom." The report also identifies a prior history: "In October 2021, there was a report of negligent supervision by Thomas' father. He was asleep when he was supposed to be watching the children." The report describes a "pattern of neglectful supervision."

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

The Safe Passage report identifies the "Adult Perpetrator: Father." The father, Roy Dean Pauza-Moore, was the child's caretaker at the time of death. He left unsecured loaded firearms accessible to the child while he was downstairs playing video games. He was charged and pleaded guilty to Child Endangerment by Firearm Access.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?

Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?

Was a foster parent involved in the death?

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

Was a sibling involved in the death?

Child Characteristics

Was the child adopted?

Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?

Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

The Safe Passage report details multiple prior contacts: "In March 2020, in response to a well-child visit, Thomas' primary care provider reported that Thomas' family was overfeeding Thomas." "In July 2021, Thomas' family was referred to the Parent Support Outreach Program (PSOP) in response to a report of domestic violence between Thomas' parents." "In October 2021, there was a report of negligent supervision by Thomas' father. He was asleep when he was supposed to be watching the children."

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

The Safe Passage report states: "Thomas' father was charged with two counts of Second-Degree Manslaughter, one count of Child Endangerment by Firearm Access, and one count of Negligent Storage of Firearms." The news article identifies him as "Roy Dean Pauza-Moore, 26" and confirms these charges. He pleaded guilty to Child Endangerment and received 150 days in jail.

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The Safe Passage report states: "In July 2021, Thomas' family was referred to the Parent Support Outreach Program (PSOP) in response to a report of domestic violence between Thomas' parents whereby Thomas' mother was physically assaulted by Thomas' father in front of Thomas." The report further notes the father exhibited "a pattern of neglectful supervision and domestic violence" and that Thomas' mother was "a victim of domestic abuse."

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

The Safe Passage report states: "Thomas' mother was also receiving individual therapy." This is a direct reference to the mental health of a parent/caregiver.

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The Safe Passage report states that "alcohol containers were on the kitchen counter and desk." The news article corroborates: "Law enforcement agents say they saw alcohol bottles and beer cans in the kitchen and living room when they entered the home." While no explicit statement of alcohol use or abuse is made, the presence of multiple alcohol containers throughout the home of the father who was the sole caretaker at the time implies alcohol use by the parent/caregiver.

Notable Details

Several substantive details emerge from the Safe Passage report. First, the father's sentencing was notably lenient: he "pleaded guilty to Child Endangerment and received 150 days in jail, staggered in two parts" and then "filed with the court to have the second sentence forgiven," which appears to have been granted. Second, the report identifies multiple systemic failures by Pine County, noting that the county "had multiple opportunities to recognize and address these concerns before Thomas' death," including the possibility that "loaded firearms may have been visible during home visits." Third, despite knowledge of the father's unsafe firearm storage, the mother "did not request sole custody of her children in the parents' divorce proceedings, which were filed a few days before Thomas' death." Fourth, after Thomas' death, "both parents share physical and legal custody of Thomas' younger sibling," and the mother "expressed a desire for the younger sibling to have a continued relationship with the father" despite his role in Thomas' death. These details reveal significant policy failures and unusual legal outcomes.

Lives Cut Short