Las Vegas police have arrested a mother after finding her 2-year-old son dead in a dumpster near downtown Thursday night.

Officers were called to the scene just before 8:30 p.m. for a missing child and immediately launched a search, KVVU reported.

The boy was found in a dumpster just before 1 a.m. Friday morning. Medics responded but pronounced the toddler dead at the scene.

Police determined the child’s mother, 23-year-old Diaja Smith, was responsible for the death and arrested her on open murder and other charges. They did not say what led them to believe Smith was responsible.

The child’s cause and manner of death will be released by the Clark County Coroner’s Office KLAS said.

Police ask anyone with information to call the LVMPD Homicide Section by phone at 702-828-3521, or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 702-385-5555, or on the internet at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

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[Featured image: Shutterstock]