Tragic mystery as adorable boy, 3, is shot dead while mom played Uno in the next room
A Texas mother's worst nightmare became reality when her three-year-old son was accidentally shot and killed inside a friend's home while she played Uno in the next room.
Leshawn Ratliff, of Cypress, was with her family visiting a friend in New Orleans when she heard a 'popping sound' from the next room, only to discover Rudy had been shot.
The child allegedly found an unsecured, loaded firearm that belonged to 47-year-old Tatisha Refuge - whom Ratliff had been visiting - and accidentally discharged the weapon, New Orleans Police said.
However, Ratliff, believes that her son did not 'accidentally discharge the weapon,' but rather alleged that Refuge had the gun on her person and discharged it herself.
'She told my mother that the gun fell off her hip and shot my son,' Leshawn told KHOU11.
The horrific tragedy took place on Saturday evening as Ratliff, her boyfriend and her older son were playing the popular card game, Uno, in a neighboring room in the 2200 block Willow Street home.
The mother-of-two later described the disturbing moment when the gun allegedly fell from Refuge’s waistband.
'I started seeing blood come out of his chest. That’s when I knew he was shot,' she said through tears to Fox8 News.
A Texas mother's worst nightmare became reality when her three-year-old son, Rudy Ratliff (pictured) was accidentally shot and killed inside a friend's home while she played Uno in the next room
Leshawn Ratliff (center), of Cypress, was with her family visiting a close friend in New Orleans, when she heard a 'popping sound' from the next room, only to discover her toddler son, Rudy (right), had been shot. Pictured: Leshawn Ratliff with her two sons
The horrific tragedy took place on Saturday evening as Ratliff, her boyfriend and her older son were playing the popular card game, Uno, in a neighboring room in the 2200 block Willow Street home (pictured)
Acting quickly, Ratliff then rushed Rudy to the hospital, where her toddler son would eventually succumb to his injuries.
'I got on the phone with 911. But in the midst of all that, we grabbed my baby and got up out of there and I drove. I drove as fast as I could to University [Medical Center]. And he was still breathing when he got there. About 15 or 20 minutes later they came out and told me he didn’t make it,' she said.
Ratliff was visiting Refuge, whom she considered an adopted grandmother to her children, on Saturday, November 30, to pick up her older son who had spent the Thanksgiving holiday there.
'She’s like a grandparent to my sons. She’s like another mom to me. She was in my life for 17 years. She kind of raised me. Once I had kids, she looked at my kids as her grandkids,' she explained.
Refuge turned herself into authorities on Monday, shortly after being identified as the gun's owner. Yet, Ratliff believes 'in her heart' that it was an honest mistake.
'It was an accidental shooting. The gun fell off his grandparent. It wasn’t in a safe. It wasn’t in a handgun position. It was just in the pocket I guess and fell out and shot my son,' Ratliff said.
The child, allegedly found an unsecured, loaded firearm that belonged to 47-year-old Tatisha Refuge - whom Ratliff had been visiting - and accidentally discharged the weapon, resulting in his death, New Orleans Police said
As for Tatisha Refuge (pictured), if charged and convicted, the 47-year-old would face imprisonment without the possibility of parole for no less than two or more than 10 years, as the victim was under 10 years old
'I know it was a mistake. I believe in my heart it was a mistake. I just don’t understand. I just don’t understand.'
The New Orleans Police Department Child Abuse detectives are still actively investigating this incident.
As for Refuge, if charged and convicted, the 47-year-old would face imprisonment without the possibility of parole for no less than two or more than 10 years, as the victim was under 10 years old.
A GoFundMe has since been organized by the grieving mother as she hopes to give her son 'a proper burial.'
