NORTH LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Documents from North Las Vegas Justice Court report five family members are facing numerous charges in connection with an accidental shooting that involved a child.
Officers were originally called to a scene in the 5000 block of Drifting Pebble Street, near Lone Mountain Road and Donna Street, with reports of a shooting that involved a child back on Nov. 10.
North Las Vegas police said the boy was taken to a hospital with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and that he may have had easy access to the gun.
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Recently obtained court documents now show relatives of the boy have been charged in the case.
The boy's mother and owner of the gun Liza Haut, father Richard Haut, grandfather Marvin Haut, grandmother Rackell Haut, and uncle Joshua Richard Haut were charged with 15 counts of child abuse, neglect or endangerment resulting in substantial bodily or mental harm.
The criminal complaint reported that the 3-year-old was able to access the gun from his mother’s purse when she was in the bathroom brushing her teeth before Haut heard a gunshot.
Police also found a total of 17 unsecured firearms, including seven loaded guns inside the home, after a search warrant was served. The report said that 15 of the guns located appeared where a child could reach them from the floor with minimal effort and the other two on higher shelves but not inaccessible to the children.
Medical records indicated the boy suffered a gunshot wound to his face and head area, according to the complaint, and the injury was consistent with an exit wound.
Given the investigation, it was apparent that the child suffered unjustifiable pain and substantial bodily harm as a result of neglect, according to authorities.
And the overall disregard of basic firearm safety in the Haut household led to the unfortunate circumstance of the young boy being able to injure himself in such a severe manner.
