Complaint: Mother charged after 3-year-old shoots himself with gun left on couch

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A child was taken to the hospital after he accidentally shot himself with a gun that was allegedly left out on Sunday, Nov. 17. 

Twenty-eight-year-old Marqueesha Smith is charged with neglecting a child-consequence of great bodily harm.

According to a criminal complaint, police reported to a non-fatal shooting that happened near 64th and Bradley. Police located the victim of the shooting, a 3-year-old. Police say the child had obtained Smith's gun she had recently left racked and loaded on the couch, next to the child, per complaint. The complaint says the child discharged the gun through his left calf. 

Smith told officers that she heard a knock on the door, racked her gun, checked and saw no one, according to the complaint. Smith said that she set the gun on the couch and started plugging her cell phone. Then, she heard a loud sound and learned that the child had shot himself, per complaint.  

Police recovered several more firearms from the home. They were taken into MPD inventory. 

Court records show Smith is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 26.