AMERICAN MONSTER- Father Shoots His 2 Young Children In The Head Just Moments After Mother Kissed Them Goodnight

TAMPA, Fla. - A Tampa father accused of shooting his two children, killing his 5-year-old and critically injuring his 8-year-old, has been granted bond in the amount of $2.5 million.

Investigators said Tuesday that Jermaine Lavanda Bass went into the bedroom of his two children – after their mother, Bass's wife Shirley, had kissed them goodnight – and shot the children multiple times in the head while they lay in their bunk beds.

Bass did not appear for his bond hearing on Friday where prosecutors argued he presents a threat to the community and should be held without bond.

"There’s no reason for this man to execute and attempt to execute his children, and that supports the state's argument that this man is too unpredictable and too dangerous to walk the streets of Hillsborough County," said Hillsborough County prosecutor Ron Gale.

But with no prior record and Bass' insistence that the shooting was an accident, Judge Catherine Catlin said the state failed to present enough evidence to deny bond.

"I’m finding that the state has not met its burden," said Catlin. "As much as I realize everybody will be shocked by that, I want it to be clear that I follow the law and I expect the state to prove what it puts in its motion. However, Mr. Bass’ bond will reflect the severity of these charges and my belief that the state did prove that there’s a substantial probability that he committed the crime."

Authorities received a call from one of Bass' neighbors reporting they heard multiple gunshots the night of August 29.

When deputies arrived at Bass' North Tampa townhome, they found his wife, Shirley, outside while he sat inside their home on his couch cradling his son, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.