LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Las Vegas police say that a child shot on Wednesday night in Las Vegas was shot by the child’s mother. The incident happened around 7 p.m. at an apartment complex on Arlington Street near Charleston and Nellis boulevards.
Police said during a press conference on Thursday that the mother had recently purchased the gun legally and was showing it off.
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Police said the shooting happened because the mother, identified as 24-year-old Jasmin Vargas, mishandled the gun and she is now facing two charges of child abuse/neglect resulting in substantial bodily harm.
“There’s nothing more tragic than having to show up and having to talk to people about the loss or injury, substantial injury to another family that was preventable," LVMPD Lt. David Valenta said.
The Clark County coroner will identify the child and release the official cause of death.
Vargas was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday afternoon. However, she refused to make an appearance.
A judge decided she should be held on $80,000 bail until her next court date, which is Dec. 22.
The judge mentioned during the bail hearing that Vargas has no previous criminal history and has family in the community.
Deaths like this are preventable, the police department says.
RELATED: Arrest report says mother pulled trigger of gun before son's death
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said it would like to remind the public of the dangers of improperly handling firearms and recommends that all new gun owners take basic firearms training and familiarization courses.
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We are awaiting a briefing from @lvmpd about the death of a toddler last night involving alleged neglect with a gun. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/7iYoL2miCe
— Jeremy Chen (@JeremyChenKTNV) December 17, 2020
NOTE: An earlier version of the story listed Vargas as 25 years of age. She is 24, according to court records.
