A Texas mother experienced a real tragedy last Saturday while visiting a friend with her family in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, several local media report.
While playing Uno with her boyfriend and her eldest son, Leshawn Ratliff heard a bang in the next room, then discovered to her horror that her young son, Rudy, had been shot.
“I saw Rudy and saw he had a hole in his chest. I saw blood starting to come out of the hole,” the mother told KHOU11.
Photo taken from Facebook
The latter immediately took her son to the hospital where he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
According to New Orleans police, the toddler found the gun at the family friend’s residence and accidentally shot himself in the chest.
The friend in question, Tatisha Refuse, was formally charged with negligent homicide. Other charges could be filed.
Photo taken from Facebook
“She was like a stepmother to me and a grandmother to my children,” Leshawn Ratliff said.
The mother of the young boy who died, however, does not believe this version of the facts. According to her, her friend had the weapon on her at the time of the tragedy, but dropped it and a shot was then fired accidentally.
Photo taken from Facebook
“My son is dead. He’s not coming back and someone needs to be held accountable,” Leshawn Ratliff said.
“He was handsome and he had a beautiful soul. He was a happy baby,” she added.
