Back in court: Grandmother accused of leaving a loaded gun within reach of child

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Renee Smith, the grandmother accused of leaving a loaded gun within reach of a four-year-old boy who allegedly shot himself in the head, waived her right to a preliminary hearing in a Milwaukee County courtroom on Thursday, September 4th.

Smith faces a charge of second-degree recklessly endangering safety -- a felony. Prosecutors say Smith’s grandson accidentally shot himself near 45th & Locust back on March 19th.

A criminal complaint against her says Smith had the gun in a shoebox underneath a bed in a bedroom where the four-year-old boy and other children were playing on the night of the shooting. The boy, named Keyontist, was seriously injured.

The criminal complaint indicates the boy had a bullet hole in his forehead. He was breathing and his eyes were slightly open, but an officer could not find a pulse and started chest compressions on the boy until the Milwaukee Fire Department arrived on scene and took over. The boy was transported to Children’s Hospital by ambulance.

Smith identified the shooting victim as her grandson, for whom she was responsible for providing care at the time of the shooting.

Smith is due back in court to enter a plea to the charge on October 16th.