Shot that killed girl fired by her 7-year-old brother
The gunshot that killed a 6-year-old Las Vegas girl Wednesday night was fired by her 7-year-old brother, who told police he found the gun in a bedroom closet and thought it was a BB gun.
The girl, who was identified by the Clark County coroner’s office today as Jorden Jackson, died of a gunshot wound to the chest in what has been ruled an accident.
The handgun had been in the home for three weeks and was purchased by the children’s father, Jevell Jackson, a convicted ex-felon who was prohibited from owning a firearm, according to an arrest reported released today by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The 37-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on charges of ex-felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of child endangerment and felony child endangerment with substantial bodily harm.
According to the arrest report, the man’s criminal history included a 1997 drug possession for sale charge and a first ex-felon in possession of a firearm offense five years ago. Both convictions were from an undisclosed jurisdiction in California.
As of this afternoon, Jackson remained at the Clark County Detention Center on $19,000 bail and refused all requests to be interviewed by the media.
Authorities responded to a 7:50 p.m. call Wednesday of an accidental shooting at the family’s home near Warm Springs Road and Rainbow Boulevard, in the southwest valley.
The girl’s 7-year-old brother told police he was looking for stuffed animals in a downstairs bedroom closet where he found a handgun on an upper shelf. The boy said he grabbed the gun and accidentally shot his sister.
Jackson told police he heard a single gunshot and discovered the 6-year-old bleeding. Jorden later died at Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center of the wound to the upper chest.
Jackson told police he threw the gun over the back wall of his yard after the shooting. Police later recovered the weapon. Jackson said he purchased it three weeks before “on Las Vegas Boulevard for $150” to protect his family.
The boy told police that he thought the gun was a BB gun his father owned at their former home.
The boy and a 16-month-old sibling were placed in protective custody by Clark County Child Protective Services pending further investigation. Officials at the agency wouldn’t reveal if or when the children would be returned to their mother, who was present at the time of the shooting.
Jorden attended Alamo Elementary School. Representatives for the school could not be reached for comment Friday.
Jackson is set to appear in Las Vegas Justice Court at 7:30 a.m. Monday.
Contact reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.
