Mother arrested after child critically injured in accidental shooting in northeast Las Vegas

The Metropolitan Police Department has arrested the mother of a child who is in critical condition after an accidental shooting in the northeast valley Sunday.

Officers responded to reports that a child had been shot at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at a home in the 4200 block of Studio Street, near Craig Road and Lamb Boulevard.

Metro’s Abuse and Neglect investigators found that 30-year-old Shaletres Townsend had left her gun on a chair in a bedroom where children were playing. The toddler was struck when the gun accidentally discharged.

The child was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and Townsend was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on a charge of child neglect with substantial bodily harm.

Metro urges parents to store their firearms responsibly, in a locked container or with a gun lock device, to protect their children and prevent avoidable injuries.

Contact Max Michor at mmichor@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Follow @MaxMichor on Twitter.