In the small city of Waycross, Georgia, a heartbreaking incident unfolded on Friday, April 4, 2014, resulting in the death of 10-year-old Taylor Marie Jowers. A fifth-grade student at Wacona Elementary School, Taylor was a native and lifelong resident of Waycross. The young girl's life was cut short in what was described by authorities as a tragic accident within her own home.
On that Friday, while her parents were at work, Taylor was at her Jana Lane residence with an older male relative, who was also a minor. Reports from investigators indicate that Taylor had asked to hold a 12-gauge shotgun. The older boy attempted to ensure the firearm was not loaded. During this process, the shotgun discharged, striking and fatally wounding Taylor. The boy immediately ran to a neighbor's house to call for emergency services.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, the focus of the investigation turned to the presence of firearms in the home. It was discovered that Taylor's father, 33-year-old Joshua Jowers, was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing firearms. The Ware County Sheriff's Office found several firearms within the residence.
As a result of these findings, Joshua Jowers was arrested on Sunday, April 6, 2014. He was charged with possession of firearms by a convicted felon and was booked into the Ware County Jail. The Ware County Sheriff, Randy Royal, publicly referred to the situation as a 'tragedy.' While an autopsy was scheduled to be performed at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in Savannah, authorities stated that the young relative who was holding the weapon at the time of the incident was not expected to face any charges, as the shooting was deemed accidental.
