MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- A mother was charged Tuesday with child neglect after her 3-year-old boy shot his 10-year-old sister with a gun he found in the house, police said.

Sherice Latimore, 26, was outside their north Dade County home showing a vehicle to a prospective buyer Monday when the boy came out of the house with a small-caliber handgun and shot his sister, according to Miami-Dade police.

Images: 3-Year-Old Shoots Sister

The girl was listed in serious condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound to the torso.

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3-Year-Old Shoots Sister

Police said Latimore was arrested on child neglect charges because she left the gun in a box on a sofa in the house within easy reach of children.

"I think she feels horrible. I think the police acted way too early," defense attorney Alexander Michaels said.

Latimore remained in the Miami-Dade County jail Tuesday evening. Before the shooting Monday night, Latimore was already on probation stemming from an arrest after a fight.

Latimore has a total of five children, four of whom are in the care of family members.

"I just ask that the Christianity faith just prays for my family and lifts us up in prayer," said Yvette Thompson, the children's aunt.

"We were able to establish that the mother left the gun on the couch unattended. She knew it was there, and left it there on purpose for whatever reasons, and that enabled the child to get access to the gun to shoot his sister," Miami-Dade Police Detective Juan Del Castillo said.

Investigators are still unsure who owns the gun.

"We don't have proof as to who the owner of the gun is. We believe it might've been the property of an ex-boyfriend of hers ... Through some serial number research, we found that the gun was reported stolen from another county," Del Castillo said.

Latimore will appear in court that has jurisdiction over her probation Wednesday to find out if and when she will get out of jail.