An 11-year-old girl was fatally shot by her mother in a murder-suicide incident at a Las Vegas hotel on February 15, according to Clark County authorities. The two were found by police during a welfare check inside their room at the Rio Hotel and Casino.

The deceased have been identified as Addilyn Smith, an 11-year-old cheerleader, and her mother, 34-year-old Tawnvia McGeehan. Both suffered gunshot wounds to the head. Investigators discovered the bodies lying side-by-side on a bed. Autopsy reports reveal that Addilyn’s face was covered by a pillow containing a bullet hole.

A semi-automatic pistol was located on McGeehan’s chest. The girl was wrapped in a blanket at the time officers arrived. The scene also included multiple handwritten notes from McGeehan, which authorities described as “deranged.” One note taped to a chair near the entrance instructed, “Call 911 before walking in. Two dead bodies and one is an 11-year-old,” likely intended as a warning to first responders.

McGeehan had recently been involved in a custody dispute with her ex-husband, Brad Smith. The circumstances surrounding the conflict and how it may have contributed to the tragic events remain under investigation.

Law enforcement officials continue to probe the case to understand the motive fully, but initial findings indicate a deliberate act by McGeehan resulting in both deaths. The community and those following the case mourn the loss of the young girl and the unusual and heartbreaking nature of the crime.