Infant shot in the face in New Mexico motel, mom to appear in court

The teenage mother of an 8-month-old girl who police say was shot in the face at a New Mexico motel is scheduled to return to court next week.

Court records show Shayanne Nelson, 18, is expected to appear Wednesday before a state judge for a preliminary hearing on child abuse charges stemming from the shooting.

Nelson was arrested after telling police she was in a Gallup motel shower with her boyfriend, Tyrell Bitsilly, 21, when her 3-year-old boy found a gun and accidentally shot the infant. Nelson said she believed the gun was left in the room by a prior occupant.

Nelson and Bitsilly are facing child abuse charges. A state district judge this week reduced her bail to $20,000 and ordered her to have no contact with her children if she posted bail.

Her attorney, Teresa Gomez, didn’t answer her phone, and her voicemail wasn’t accepting messages.

Police said no other adults were in the room at the time of the shooting. A witness told police he saw Bitsilly wipe the handgun after it occurred.

Bitsilly also was charged with tampering with evidence. He remained held on $70,000 bail and is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on Wednesday in Gallup.

Gallup Police Capt. Marinda Spencer said the Gallup Indian Medical Center listed the infant in critical condition on Tuesday, and police have not received any updates on her condition.

The criminal complaint does not detail the severity of the baby’s wound.