Parents held after baby is shot in the face by three-year-old brother in motel room
Their mother and boyfriend are facing child abuse charges as the eight-month-old fights for her life in a New Mexico hospital.
Wednesday 12 December 2018 07:28, UK
An eight-month-old baby is fighting for her life after her three-year-old brother accidentally shot her in the face, police in New Mexico say.
The incident is said to have happened in a motel room in Gallup while their mother and her boyfriend were in the shower.
The infant is in a critical condition and her condition has not changed since she was found by police on Saturday.
According to a criminal complaint, Shayanne Nelson, 18, and her boyfriend, Tyrell Bitsilly, 21, were in a motel shower when Nelson's child found a gun and accidentally shot the baby.
Officers arrived at the motel to find an adult holding a baby with a gunshot wound to her face, the complaint said.
Nelson told police she was unaware a gun was in the room and that it may have been left by a previous occupant.
She added that her son likely found the gun and decided to play with it.
Police said no other adults were in the room when the pair went to take a shower.
A witness told police he saw Bitsilly wipe the gun after the shooting.
The baby was taken to Gallup Indian Medical Center following the accident.
Nelson and Bitsilly are facing child abuse charges and were booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center.
Bitsilly has also been charged with tampering with evidence.
Court records show Nelson was released on a $5,000 (£3,998) unsecured bond. Bitsilly was ordered held on a $70,000 (£55,979) bond.
It was not known if either is represented by an attorney.