A trip for a group of young men with special needs turned into a tragedy on July 3, 2018, in Roswell, Georgia, resulting in the death of 17-year-old Zachary Chambless. The male teenager, who had a severe seizure disorder and autism, was on a camping trip with a group from a program called My Buddy & Me, which catered to teens and young adults with special needs. The group's caretaker and the program's co-founder, 35-year-old Gerard K. Brister, stopped at a Mountain Motorsports on Upper Hembree Road. He left six of the young men, including Zachary, unattended in an SUV while he went inside the business.
While Brister was in the store, a 21-year-old member of the group, described as having 'significantly diminished capabilities,' discovered a handgun that had been left under a seat in the vehicle. He picked up the firearm and accidentally shot Zachary. Witnesses in the parking lot reported hearing two quick gunshots. The incident also resulted in a minor injury to a 63-year-old bystander in the parking lot, who was grazed on the hand by a bullet and drove himself to a local hospital for treatment. Zachary Chambless was fatally wounded and died at the scene.
Following the incident, Roswell police investigated and determined the shooting was accidental. However, they charged Gerard Brister with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct, as the firearm belonged to him and was left accessible in the vehicle with the unsupervised group. Brister was arrested and taken to the Fulton County Jail. His attorney stated that Brister was devastated and that the event was entirely unintentional and unforeseeable for him. A judge granted Brister a $15,000 bond. The state also opened an investigation into the My Buddy & Me program, and its website and Facebook page were taken down following the shooting.
Zachary was a student at Dunwoody High School and was remembered by his family for the simple joys he found in life, particularly his love for things that flew, such as flags, balloons, and birds. Though non-verbal, he communicated his happiness through his smile. In his memory, his family and community flew American flags, a personal item he often carried, and released 250 balloons at his memorial service to honor his joyful spirit.
