Tragic mystery as adorable boy, 3, is shot dead while mom played Uno in the next room

A Texas mother’s worst nightmare came true when her three-year-old son was accidentally shot dead at a friend’s house while she was playing Uno in the next room.

Leshawn Ratliff, of Cypress, was visiting a friend in New Orleans with her family when she heard a “popping noise” from the next room, only to discover that Rudy had been shot.

The child allegedly found an unsecured, loaded firearm belonging to 47-year-old Tatisha Refuge — whom Ratliff had been visiting — and accidentally fired the weapon, New Orleans police said.

However, Ratliff believes that her son did not “accidentally fire the gun,” but rather claimed that Refuge pointed the gun at her person and fired it himself.

“She told my mother that the gun fell off her hip and shot my son,” Leshawn said KHOU11.

The horrific tragedy occurred Saturday evening when Ratliff, her boyfriend and her eldest son were playing the popular card game Uno in an adjoining room in the home in the 2200 block of Willow Street.

The mother of two later described the disturbing moment the gun allegedly fell from Refuge’s waistband.

“I started seeing blood coming out of his chest. That’s when I knew he had been shot,” she said through tears Fox8 News.

Leshawn Ratliff (center), of Cypress, was visiting a close friend in New Orleans with her family when she heard a “popping noise” from the next room, only to discover that her son, Rudy (right), had been shot. Pictured: Leshawn Ratliff with her two sons

The horrific tragedy occurred Saturday evening when Ratliff, her boyfriend and her eldest son were playing the popular card game Uno in an adjoining room in the home at 2200 Willow Street (pictured)

Ratliff acted quickly and then rushed Rudy to the hospital, where her son would eventually succumb to his injuries.

“I called 911. But in the middle of it all, we grabbed my baby, got up and drove away. I drove to college as fast as I could [Medical Center]. And he was still breathing when he got there. About 15 or 20 minutes later they came out and told me he didn’t make it,” she said.

Ratliff was visiting Refuge, whom she considered an adopted grandmother to her children, on Saturday, Nov. 30, to pick up her oldest son who had spent the Thanksgiving holiday there.

‘She is like a grandparent to my sons. She is like another mother to me. She was in my life for 17 years. She raised me a bit. Once I had children, she considered my children her grandchildren,” she explained.

Refuge turned herself in to authorities on Monday, shortly after she was identified as the gun’s owner. Still, Ratliff believes “in her heart” it was an honest mistake.

“It was an accidental shooting. The gun fell from his grandparent. It wasn’t in a safe. It wasn’t in a pistol position. I think it was just in the bag and fell out and shot my son,” Ratliff said.

The child allegedly found an unsecured, loaded firearm belonging to 47-year-old Tatisha Refuge — whom Ratliff was visiting — and accidentally discharged the weapon, resulting in his death, New Orleans police said.

As for Tatisha Refuge (pictured), if charged and convicted, the 47-year-old would face a prison sentence without the possibility of parole of not less than two or more than ten years, as the victim was under ten years old.

‘I know it was a mistake. I believe in my heart that it was a mistake. I just don’t understand it. I just don’t understand it.’

New Orleans Police Department Child Abuse Detectives are still actively investigating this incident.

As for Refuge, if charged and convicted, the 47-year-old would face a prison sentence without the possibility of parole of not less than two or more than ten years, as the victim was under ten years old.

A GoFundMe has since been organized by the grieving mother as she hopes to give her son ‘a proper funeral’.