Toddler critically injured in accidental shooting after suspect discards gun on day care playground

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A toddler in Las Vegas was hospitalized in critical condition after finding a gun on a day care playground that had been discarded by a teenager who was fleeing after opening fire on a city bus, authorities announced Friday.

Deputy Police Chief Reggie Rader said the toddler, who is under the age of 5, “found the firearm, picked it up, and the firearm discharged.”

Rader said the toddler was in stable but critical condition as of Friday afternoon.

Police officers found the suspect in the area of the day care in northeastern Las Vegas and took him into custody. Rader did not identify the suspect, who he said is younger than 18.

Emailed requests for comment weren’t immediately returned by the corporate office for the only day care center located on the street where police said the shooting happened. A woman who answered the phone at the day care told The Associated Press that she couldn’t talk about the shooting.

Rader said it wasn’t immediately clear what charges the teenager will face, but the police department was consulting with the local district attorney’s office about “all applicable charges” and whether he will be charged as an adult.

The teenager had been running from the city bus when he jumped over a wall and into the day care’s playground area, authorities said.

Rader said the teenager had gotten into an argument with a man on the bus, pulled out a gun and shot him. That man was also hospitalized and was in stable condition, Rader said.