Cypress household grieves toddler’s tragic demise in unintentional taking pictures

CYPRESS, Texas — A Cypress household is grieving after a go to to see family members in New Orleans ended with the lack of the household’s youngest youngster.

Three-year-old Rudy Ratliff was killed in what police say seems to have been an unintentional taking pictures. 

Photos are all Leshawn Ratliff has left of her son, Rudy.

“My life modified like that my complete life modified like that,” Leshawn mentioned.

By means of tears, Leshawn talks about shedding her son this previous weekend whereas they had been visiting an in depth household good friend, Tatisha Refuge.

“She’s like a stepmom to me and she or he’s like a um, a grandparent to my children,” Leshawn mentioned.

Leshawn, her boyfriend and oldest son had been taking part in a sport of uno in Refuge’s residence after they heard a popping sound.

“I see Rudy after which I see he has a gap proper right here and I begin seeing blood come out of the opening,” Leshawn mentioned.

New Orleans police mentioned the toddler discovered a gun in Refuge’s residence and by chance shot himself, however Leshawn disagrees.

“My son did not discover a gun. Um, he had no thought a gun was in the home,” Leshawn mentioned.

She mentioned Refuge had the gun on her.

“She instructed my mom that the gun fell off her hip and um, and shot my son,” Leshawn mentioned.

Refuge turned herself into New Orleans police on Monday. She now faces a cost of negligent murder and officers mentioned there might be extra fees.

“My son is useless. He is not coming again and someone must be held accountable,” Leshawn mentioned.

Leshawn mentioned as they push for accountability, she hopes folks will bear in mind her son as the sunshine he all the time was.

“He was a lovely soul. He was a lovely, stunning soul. He was such a contented child,” she mentioned.

Leshawn and her household will keep in New Orleans till Rudy’s funeral. A GoFundMe has been set as much as assist the household.