Newnan mom whose 2-year-old shot sister turns herself in

As expected, the mother of a 2-year-old who shot his 11-year-old sister in a restaurant turned herself in to authorities.

Jennifer Cotton is charged with reckless conduct, according to Coweta County jail records. She surrendered early Saturday.

Cotton’s son got her .380-caliber handgun from her purse Sunday at the No. 1 Buffet in the 1700 block of Newnan Crossing Boulevard, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.

Rather than a bullet, a screw that holds a plastic piece in place at the bottom of the holster went through the girl’s leg, Newnan police Lt. Tate Washington said.

“Medical staff was able to determine it was not a bullet (that hit the girl), it was a machine-type screw,” Washington said.

Cotton’s daughter had surgery to remove the screw at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston and was in stable condition Tuesday, Washington said.

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Ellen Eldridge

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