An Evanston man was arrested Thursday night in connection with the death of his 4-year-old nephew, Deputy Chief Joe Bellino of the Evanston Police Department said.

Pierre Miller, 19, of the 1800 block of Dodge Avenue, was charged with three felonies – illegal possession of a handgun, obstruction of justice and also endangering the life of a child resulting in the death of a child.

Miller also was charged with a city ordinance violation for possessing a handgun.

Miller’s nephew, Aaron, died Wednesday at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago after the gun he was playing with in his home discharged, Bellino said.

Through interviews, police found that Miller brought the gun into the house a week before and hid it in his bedroom, Bellino said.

After the boy was shot, Miller hid the 9mm semiautomatic pistol in the attic, and it was found by a forensics team, Bellino said.

The five adults who were home when the early morning shooting occurred said they did not witness the event, Bellino said.

Miller was previously convicted for drug use, Bellino said. Because of the felony conviction, Miller was prohibited from owning a handgun.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office and the police department are waiting for the results of additional forensics tests before they release any further information, Bellino said.

– Diana Xin