5-year-old shoots self in head after being locked alone in home
June 24, 2013
A New Orleans mother is facing murder charges after her 5-year-old daughter, who was locked their home alone, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Investigators told WWLTV that 28-year-old Laderika Smth admitted that a gun was in the home where she had left her daughter while she went to the store.
New Orleans police were called to the home just before 11 a.m. on Sunday and found the 5-year-old girl lying on the bedroom floor. A .38 revolver was also recovered at the scene.
"See that little girl was probably going through the house and she probably ran across the gun, probably thought it was a toy and started playing with it," neighbor Amber Rodriguez told WVUE.
After being rushed to a local hospital, the girl was taken off life support Sunday evening.
Smith was charged with second degree murder. Police said that she had a criminal history, including multiple arrests for theft and prostitution.
The district attorney could file additional charges following an autopsy on Monday, according to police.
Watch this video from WVUE, broadcast June 23, 2013.
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Watch this video from WWLTV, broadcast June 23, 2013.