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Jul. 24, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

2-year-old shooting victim remains in critical condition

By LAWRENCE MOWER AND MIKE BLASKY
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

A 2-year-old girl is fighting for her life in a hospital room after being shot by her older brother Thursday night, the second child to fall victim to unsecured guns in less than a week. The girl remained at a local hospital in critical condition tonight. She and her family have not been identified by authorities.

“It’s a tragedy. It can be so prevented,” Las Vegas police spokeswoman Barbara Morgan said. “You have a right to carry a weapon, but you need to be responsible with your firearms.”

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    • The department’s Violent Crimes Unit and Abuse Neglect Unit is investigating the shooting, which happened about 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the girl’s home at 1708 Verde Jardin Way, near Jones and Oakey boulevards. Investigators believe the girl’s 4-year-old brother found a loaded, improperly secured handgun in the house. While holding the weapon, it discharged, striking the sister in the torso.

    The family was home at the time of the shooting Morgan said. No charges have been filed. The parents weren’t at the home this afternoon. There was a car in the driveway, but it was missing a tire and didn’t appear to have moved in some time. A barking dog welcomed visitors behind a fence in the backyard.

    One neighbor said Verde Jardin Way was roped off by police until at least 2 a.m. today. She said she didn’t know the residents, but couldn’t believe parents would leave firearms around their children.

    “People need to have their guns locked up,” said the neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous. “We’ve got kids, too. They (parents) need to be alert.”

    The incident was the second this week involving a child being injured or killed after gaining access to a firearm. A 5-year-old autistic child, Giovanni Kopystenski, died Monday after accidentally shooting himself in the head with his father’s gun.

    His father, Alexander Kopystenski, was in the car with his son when it happened and was arrested by police on a felony charge of child endangerment.

    State law does not require guns be stored in a particular manner around children. But under the state’s child endangerment statute, a parent or guardian can be prosecuted if they allow situations “that a reasonable person would not grant,” such as leaving a loaded, unsecured weapon around a child.

    Last month the parents of a 10-year-old boy were charged with child neglect, reckless endangerment and child endangerment after their son shot a girl in the mouth with a pistol.

    The two were playing “cops and robbers,” according to authorities, and the boy loaded a bullet into his parents’ .38 caliber weapon and pulled the trigger.

    North Las Vegas police found the family kept several unsecured guns in their home and that the boy had been caught playing with the guns before.

    Guns have claimed the lives of 18 children 15 years of age and younger through homicides and accidents since the beginning of 2006, including Monday’s incident, according to a Clark County spokeswoman.

    Five of those incidents were accidents. Police recommend that firearms are stored in a locked area, secured with a trigger or slide cable lock and kept unloaded.

    “You have a responsibility to keep your gun locked up,” Morgan said. “If it’s not locked up, it should be completely unloaded.”

    Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440. Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.

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    Richard wrote on July 28, 2009 04:43 AM: I work for Gillespie: he makes me wear lipstick and a blinfold that has traumatized me for life!!!


    Nutjob: why violent crimes are up and jaywalking down wrote on July 28, 2009 04:39 AM: 6 weeks a go the misses returned from a trip to find 95 thou a year female driver inside her home

    an argument occurred and and hubby hit the misses

    two young officers arrived once again and the boss would only talk to him through the door

    so they called out the dv lieutent and this is where he got real nasty and told him that the wife was fine and only two people cud arrest him and not u lieutenant

    using there iPhones, blackberries numerous cops took a photo of the call for service on there screen and also the call that was changed to a 406a ....numerous pics have been sent back and forth jus in time for 2010


    Jaso wrote on July 25, 2009 09:37 AM: Is it coincidence that the nickname for Richard is Dick? Wow, people like this really exist


    Richard wrote on July 25, 2009 08:08 AM: trolling message boards is fun. hope you had as much fun as i have.


    "I'm not Lisa" wrote on July 25, 2009 12:47 AM: To Thomas:
    Richard's posts are removed because he advocated rape of another poster. He also supported children being killed by gun.
    I support a vets. However, you must admit, there is are some who have PTSD (as I stated in a previous post). Which this person may have. I don't laugh at this. He needs help. To deny so makes you as wrong as those who refuse to support vets in any way.
    You read this man's previous post, obviously. He deserves support, but, he also nees help to deal with his trauma.


    Thomas wrote on July 25, 2009 12:36 AM: God Bless America. People like Richard protect us and defend us. You people attack him and I would not have said anything except that his post was removed about the iraqi war. We want people that are like that on our side guys because they are the police, SWAT, and military.


    Jen wrote on July 24, 2009 10:20 PM: I want to know the number of people who have actually used the loaded guns they keep in their homes for "protection" compared to the number of accidents caused because people keep loaded guns around for "protection".


    Chris wrote on July 24, 2009 09:15 PM: Las Vegas... where kids have more access to guns than they have to good education.


    "I'm not Lisa" wrote on July 24, 2009 07:23 PM: But, I agree with her.....
    By the way, Richard, I agree with you too. So, start with yourself. After all,you are no Einstein. Let's see you man up with your big powerful weapons. I bet you are too chicken sh**.
    I bet if a criminal entered your house you'd run and hide behind your wife.
    I sure hope she knows how to use a gun. The thug in her house is likely worse then any criminal she has a chance encounter of meeting.


    Eddie Gin wrote on July 24, 2009 07:09 PM: Everyday in America it's a shame: VERO BEACH - Police say an autopsy of a 5-month old boy found dead after he was left in the back seat of an SUV has revealed that he died of heat exhaustion.

    According to a news release, Gannon Werking was discovered by his mother, Stephanie Werking, at about 5 p.m. Thursday. Police arrived after a passer-by called 911 and reported a child was in the car.

    Vero Beach police say Stephanie Werking had been at work in a building next to the parking lot since 8:30 Thursday morning.

    Police say the Friday autopsy revealed no additional signs of neglect.


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