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By Cara McCoy 
Monday, March 1, 2010 | 5:38 p.m.
Approximate area of shooting
Sun Archives
The parents of a 2-year-old boy who shot himself in the abdomen with his father’s Metro Police-issued handgun are facing charges of child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm after a February incident at the family’s Overton home.
Investigators said Jared and Shawnee Bledsoe allowed their son to be placed in a situation where he “suffered unjustifiable physical harm and mental suffering” when they left a loaded handgun in a nightstand drawer accessible to their son, Jared Benjamin Bledsoe, according to an arrest report released Monday.
Shawnee Bledsoe called 911 at 10:53 p.m. Feb. 6 to report her son had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen, through the chest and arm, and that he had shot himself with a .45-caliber Wilson Combat handgun that belonged to her husband, a Metro officer.
A police officer in the area of the home in the 600 block of Lillian Condie Road heard the report come in over dispatch and responded to the scene. He transported the Bledsoes to a Clark County Fire Department station in Overton, where emergency medical technicians transported the boy by ambulance to University Medical Center in Las Vegas. Jared was taken into emergency surgery.
While the family was at UMC, other officers responded to the home to interview witnesses. Investigators learned the Bledsoes had several guests over and were playing cards in the kitchen after they had put Jared and their other son, age 4, to bed.
After interviewing Jared and Shawnee Bledsoe at UMC, investigators learned they had put Jared to bed in their master bedroom. They said they often separated the children at night to prevent them from keeping each other awake.
While the group was playing cards, a gunshot was heard from the master bedroom, according to the police report. Jared and Shawnee Bledsoe, along with the other adults in the home, rushed to the room, where they found Jared on his back on the bed with an injury to his abdomen. Shawnee Bledsoe called 911.
During the interview, Jared Bledsoe told investigators he typically stored the handgun in the nightstand drawer. A second unsecured loaded handgun was on the floor of a closet inside a bag.
The bullet from the Wilson handgun went into the boy's abdomen, through his small bowel, liver, colon, diaphragm, lung and arm, the report stated. A surgeon said the boy’s surgery went well, but he would continue to need follow-up care and future surgeries to repair the damage.
Metro’s forensics department analyzed the Wilson pistol, which was found to be operational with no malfunctions, the report stated.
Police again interviewed the Bledsoes on Feb. 16. Shawnee Bledsoe told investigators there were no locks on the drawer or on the weapon, but told police that to fire the gun, one would have to depress the grip safety and pull the trigger at the same time.
She told police she and her husband believed they needed to be prepared to defend their family. The children knew guns were in the home but didn’t know where they were kept and knew that they weren't supposed to touch them, she told police.
She said she sometimes keeps a gun under her pillow when her husband is away.
Jared Bledsoe said he didn’t think his son would be able to manipulate both safeties and fire the gun and said the thumb safety is always on when the gun is being stored.
At the time of the shooting, police said Metro’s Internal Affairs Division would review the case after it was reviewed by the Clark County District Attorney’s Office to determine if any of the department’s policies were violated.
Today's Las Vegas Sun Headlines:
"Fire captain accused of trying to lure children on Craigslist"
"Metro officer, wife face charges after toddler shoots self"
Sad day for our public servants.
The gun isn't a "Metro police issued handgun." Metro does not issue handguns to any of their officers. While it may have been the officer's duty weapon, saying it was Metro issued implies that the firearm belongs to Metro.
Generally speaking, it's safer to give a loaded handgun to a toddler than a Metro officer.
I don't think they use .45 on duty. Watch him hire the attorney who was used by the NHP 119 mph guy.
I don't think a hand that small can get around the grip and reach the trigger, assuming it is one of those grip safeties below the hammer.
I smell a rat. I'm glad they let the public know where these nutty people live. I hope the taxpayers don't have to pay for this.
Informant, do you think anybody cares whether it was Metro issued or otherwise? Nope.
I suspect that poor kid is gonna be pooping in a bag for the rest of his life judging by the description of his injuries.
The people who "smell a rat" are almost as stupid as the parents who leave unattended guns lying around.
The officer will loose his job. Period. The kid will be screwed for life. Tragic.
To claim that Metro has been anything less than forthcoming about this whole stupid mess is absurd.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment was an argument with another commenter, contained name-calling and wasn't related to the story.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment was an argument with another commenter, contained name-calling and wasn't related to the story.
this police officer is a complete idiot. reminds me of the FBI or DEA agent on youtube that was demonstrating firearms to a class of kids and shot himself in the foot.
amazing that during the training to become a metro police officer he wasn't trained on basic firearms safety. LOCK THE GUN IN A SAFE.
even if he had not chambered a round, his son would be safe (I don't believe it would be difficult at all for a small child to depress the grip safety and pull the trigger on a pistol, but he DEFINITELY would NOT have been able to work the slide and chamber a round on a .45 caliber pistol.
my thoughts and prayers go out for this poor child, who is a victim of his parents stupidity. I too fear his devastating injuries have pretty much ruined his chances for a happy, healthy life.
Sad.
If that kid can lock and load that firearm then he should have known all about gun safety...As is his father who has had gun safety classes im sure and would know better than to leave a firearm with a cartridge in the chamber accessible to any child... I hope he gets time for this or at least has his firearms taken away for his stupidity...
this police officer is a complete idiot.I know they teach this in a saftey course.Little kids and guns do not mix.I feel sorry for there kids but not for the mother and father.When you have kids its a 24 hr. job looking after them or don't have them.
If parents truly understand the definition of the word parenting, these kind of things would never happen. What is really shocking, is that it was a Metro officer who should definitely know better, and have the proper facilities for storing his weapons around the home.
The kid is lucky to be alive. WTF was the officer thinking leaving a loaded (and chambered) gun in a nightstand ??
dhvincent1 - I'll try to answer your questions...
1. When this was first reported in February they said the weather had grounded all medical helicopters.
2. According to the RJ article, Shawnee Bledsoe sister had been murdered at a young age. Perhaps the community is safe, but when you or your family have been victimized, sometime you don't always think rationally.
3. You would have to ask the officer why he did what he did. Personally, I think most would have done the same thing. My understanding is the Overton EMT station is staffed by volunteers. Unless they were required to be at the station, they would have been coming from home to get the ambulance. Taking the child there saved precious minutes.
4. Friends
5. He had been put to bed in the master bedroom so that he and his brother would not keep each other awake.
I am sure this couple feels terrible and this happens all too often in America. Thank God this is not a fatality!
There are many safety features on this weapon. A grip safety and there is also a hammer safety: (If the hammer is in the cocked position, you can engage this safety that will stop the hammer from falling-firing.
This is also a single action pistol which means it has to be cocked to fire -- by manually pulling the slide or hammer back. A 2 year old would not have been able to perform this - nor would a 2 year old be able to manipulate the hammer safety if it had been used.
If this news account is accurate -this weapon was in the "ready fire" (no hammer safety in use) status and that is very reckless and unnecessary. The time it takes to chamber a round - or click the hammer safety on/off? About 1 second - If the pistol was stored in that condition - the kid would never have been able to fire it.
As far as the pillow thing -- also nuts"maybe this couple watches too much TV???
To put this into perspective: A frontline US Army soldier in Afghanistan would not store a weapon in the "ready fire" status without using the hammer safety.
The article, incomplete as it is, according to some of the comments here, never mentions what became of the older brother. Was he removed from the home ? Is the two year old back at home with his parents & older brother ?
Are the parents still using their house as an armory filled with guns ready to fire or have they been made safe ?
I just heard on the radio today that the child is still in the hospital, and was just upgraded from serious to stable.
he will be in the hospital a long time, and he faces a long difficult rehabilitation and several more surgeries in the future.
this is not like getting your knees gashed crashing your scooter and having a few stitches. this childs life has been forever altered.
the father should lose his metro job. I certainly would not want this fool to respond to an emergency in my neighborhood. he is obviously incapable of being trusted with a loaded weapon.
Who really pulled the trigger? The two year old or the four year old?
Cops are not the brightest of bulbs.
The reporter doesn't know these people, and they made them sound like they are irresponsible parents. They are in fact loving, responsible parents who love those boys more than life itself and they along with everyone in the family and those that know and love them, mean the world to us. The people that have said hateful things about them do not know them, have no idea how bad they feel about what has happened. The older brother is doing ok and is with family, who are doing their best to support and love them. Why do people say such nasty hateful things about the very police force that is there to protect them. This couple are upstanding, respectful, God-loving people who would do anything for you if you asked or needed anything. This was an unforseen accident and the important thing is the toddler is going to survive, and not necessarily "poop in a bag the rest of his life". If this officer was called to protect me, I'd feel confident that he could handle the situation and if I was in combat with him, I'd have his back!
"this was an unforseen accident"???
lets see, put a 2 year old to bed with a loaded, CHAMBERED .45 caliber pistol in the nightstand right next to him. we all KNOW a 2 year old would NEVER touch a gun because his parents told him not to, right?
I'm sure they do love their son. but it doesn't change the fact that they are unfit as parents.
this accident was NOT unforseen.
this was an accident waiting to happen.
before you defend them (as you obviously know them) take a minute to think this: If YOU have a small child, who has been in that house, it could very well be YOUR child who was shot, and might now be dead or crippled for life.
and I DON'T think somebody foolish enough to endanger their own family like this is suitable to a job that allows them to carry a gun and make life and death decisions.
I don't doubt these parents love their children.
They were NOT RESPONSIBLE. If you leave firearms accessable to children then YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
Any chance either was related to Drew or Temptest from the cosby show?
One of my best friends is married to a cop. Never does he bring his gun home! NEVER. Why? Because he has three small children under the age of 6. It doesn't take a damned genius to know that little kids, do and touch what little kids will, regardless of if their parents said not to.
This injury was hardly an unforseen accident. It could have been prevented with the simple COMMON SENCE of the parents to either not have guns in the house, unload the damn guns/put them in a locked space - or have them up high and locked somewhere where the children would never find them.
They may be wonderful parents in every other way - but they have failed horribly here! Thank God this child isn't dead. Lesson learned - keep your guns out of the house!
Hey, to all the numnutz who talk about having a loaded weapon in the house for kids to shoot themselves with as being irresponsibile: how many of you have older kids who get to the unlocked liquor cabinet or medicine cabinet, whoop it up and then take the car and kill themselves or others? Or how many of you "parents" don't have the time of day for your kids to see they're brought up right and don't descend into booze or drugs? How many of you are setting bad examples for your kids to drink the night away telling your kids it's ok to do that? How many of you commit domestive violence for your kids to see which is a family cycle that kills others?
Give me a break about being "unfit" parents. Most of you probably treat your children with disrespect and stupidity. How many of you have had parenting classes? How many of you can really throw stones a these people? You've all got nothing to do but gripe at these two people? Look at their tragedy as a wake up call in your own home. Morons.
This is tragic, because it was preventable... hopefully this can be a learning experience for all and hopefully the kid will be ok...
I usually don't get into to many arguments but this issue really gets me riled up...
My dad was a cop and we NEVER had a loaded weapon in the house...Typically the loaded weapon kills or severely injures someone close not an intruder... How many times is it reported that an intruder was killed versus someone close? I am all for people being allowed to own a firearm... But keep it locked up... And more to the point keep them unloaded... You want home protection my dad always said get a dog... I have never understood the mentality of people who keep loaded weapons in the house...Do you people that beilive this is ok really think you will be mentally ready to handle a weapon if you were woken out of a dead sleep... What if you have a sleep walker in your house, I mean the list goes on and on... I have militant friends that do not keep loaded weapons and they live by themselves with no kids... So there really is no excuse for it... your right to bear arms was created when at any moment you may have been called to go to battle, with a muzzle loading musket... times are a bit different now...
Fact is kids WILL play with a gun...So lock them up...
And please you really want to compare keeping a chambered handgun unlocked in the house to a liquor cabinet... How conservative are you?
While I disagree with ChickenLittle about keeping your home defense handgun unloaded (find a rock to throw...it's cheaper) I do agree that a loud, territorial dog is the best first defense.
I have two very large and protective dogs and believe me, by the time they were done with a home invader he would be begging me to shoot him. Of course I might just take my time to first unload and then reload my weapon for the heck of it.
Dhvincent:
It could be argued, that the scene was secured, by the officer transporting the family. The lapse in police presence at the scene, will likely be how the D.A. justifies not even attempting to file charges. With that gap, they wouldn't (shouldn't) stick, anyway.
Well said Karina. This IS a happy reminder about prevention. (Happy because the child is NOT dead. No matter how his injury impacts his future, he at least HAS a future.)
In the interest of full disclosure: there are two 9mm semi-automatic pistols under the same roof as my son. If they are not in a locked safe (which is bolted into the shelf it sits on) then they are actually being worn (with the proper CCWP) en route to/from a job.
I grew up around all sorts of firearms. I have known children who were harmed by them, as well as kids like myself, who come from a family with enough weaponry to start it's own militia...but would never have considered 'playing' with a weapon, even if it were handed to them.
I'm not a gun-nut, by far. I have never personally owned a firearm of any sort, nor do I belong to the NRA. I HAVE been held at gunpoint. (No, it wasn't a family member. ;)) While I don't think all of the guns should be melted down into ploughshares, I also don't believe that anyone should be allowed to claim ownership of 12 firearms "just to protect myself and my family" with a straight face.
As to bad parenting- I'm the Mother of a young boy who has been fighting the 'gun culture' for many years.
I will not buy my son any toy guns, but I have allowed him to keep the various rifles, pistols, and nerf-type dart guns that he has been given. I'm not saying it's RIGHT OR WRONG for YOUR child to have them- I'm just explaining what I have, to date, chosen for my child.
I have always insisted that he treat his guns as if they were both real, and loaded.
I can only imagine that despite my heroic efforts to the contrary, I will still wind up being vilified like the parents of the boy who bit his sandwich into the shape of a gun, at school, and made 'pew-pew' noises as he pointed it at his peers.
My only consolation might be that my kid will know better than to point even an UN-loaded sandwich at any living thing.
"While I disagree with ChickenLittle about keeping your home defense handgun unloaded (find a rock to throw...it's cheaper) I do agree that a loud, territorial dog is the best first defense.
I have two very large and protective dogs and believe me, by the time they were done with a home invader he would be begging me to shoot him. Of course I might just take my time to first unload and then reload my weapon for the heck of it."
Labdaddy,
true comment, however, the same thing applies as with firearms. an UNTRAINED or poorly controlled large dog can and does often injure the very people it is supposed to protect.
look at the recent death by mauling of the 4 year old daughter of the "Ax Men" reality show lumberjack who was killed in her own backyard by the family's rottweiler.
just_an_average_joe ,
So true. A protective and territorial dog becomes that way because he respects his owner as the true "alpha dog" and the source of his nourishment. A well trained dog does not bite the hand that feeds him. A dog, with proper guidance, will accept his place in the family pecking order. In my house, my dogs accept that they are below my 4 year old grandchild. Rewarded behavior is repeated behavior.
always teach your child safety and safe gun handling.
I guess if your child is 4 then obviously you should give them up for adoption.
The guy should have kept it in a combination safe of some kind. I know my lil nephews get into all kinds of stuff at thier height.
IF you keep guns in your house at least dress your toddlers in kevlar.