A photo shows a woman's hand holding a handgun pointed at a 17-month-old girl. The toddler stares toward the barrel of the gun.

The girl's father received the photo in a text message about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday from his ex-girlfriend, Fasshon Shivers, who is the child's mother, according to Columbus police.

"I truly don't know what precipitated sending this photo of her holding the firearm to the child," said Columbus Police Sgt. Richard Ketcham, who oversees the domestic-violence unit.

The photo was taken on the city's South Side in the 2500 block of Fairwood Avenue. Shivers left in a white Chevy Malibu shortly after the photo was sent.

An Amber Alert was issued for the child because police believed the child was in imminent danger based on the photo.

"That's what made this such a dynamic situation ... why we wanted to address (it) with as much quickness as we could," Ketcham said.

Shivers was heading to a friend's house in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Using cellphone data, State Highway Patrol troopers were able to catch up with Shivers in Coolville in Athens County, about 90 miles from Columbus in rural southeastern Ohio and about 17 miles from Parkersburg. Shivers was taken into custody, and the Amber Alert was canceled. The child, who was not harmed, was placed with Franklin County Children Services.

A search warrant was issued for Shivers' residence, where police found the handgun.

Shivers was charged with kidnapping. She was being held at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail in Nelsonville on Wednesday night, awaiting an extradition proceeding to Franklin County. More charges could follow, Ketcham said.

bburger@dispatch.com

@ByBethBurger