LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A mother accused by police of shooting her 3-year-old son while showing friends a newly-purchased gun was appointed a public defender in court Tuesday morning.
24-year-old Jasmin Vargas is accused by police of pointing the gun in the direction of two children and pulling the trigger.
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Authorities say her 3-year-old son, identified as “John," was shot in the head during the incident and died. The coroner has identified the child as John Jaffey.
According to an arrest report, Vargas had recently purchased the gun legally and told police she did not know there was a bullet in the chamber.
She faces two counts of child abuse and neglect for pointing the gun in the direction of the two children, the report says.
ORIGINAL STORY: Vegas PD: 3-year-old boy killed by gunfire while walking
Previously, bail was set for Vargas at $80,000 on the condition that she does not have any weapons and that she has no contact with minors unless approved by the Department of Child Protective Services.
As of Tuesday morning, she remains behind bars at Clark County Detention Center.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 5.
