Deshawnteris Lyrell Terrell Edwards, a 12-year-old African American boy from Peoria, Illinois, tragically passed away on July 21, 2021. Deshawnteris was pronounced dead at 5:44 a.m. at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He was born on November 12, 2008, to Karon Schuch and Dexter Edwards, Sr. Deshawnteris was a 7th-grade student at Trewyn Middle School in Peoria and was known for his love of video games, breakfast foods, and TV shows about vampires.
The circumstances surrounding Deshawnteris's death were both tragic and preventable. He died from a single gunshot wound at his mother's home in Peoria. The incident occurred when a 15-year-old boy, who was also in the house, was handling a firearm that accidentally discharged, striking Deshawnteris. The Peoria County State's Attorney's Office confirmed that the teen was charged in the juvenile division of Peoria County Circuit Court with reckless conduct and unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor. Additionally, Deshawnteris's mother, Karon Schuch, was charged with obstructing justice and endangering the life and health of a child.
Deshawnteris's death highlighted the dangers of firearms in the hands of minors and the importance of gun safety. His godparents, Tori and Jerome Ware, who had been his foster parents, expressed their shock and grief over the incident. They remembered Deshawnteris as a happy and talkative boy who loved to play football and basketball and enjoyed reading horror books from the Goosebumps series. The Wares emphasized that Deshawnteris was not the type to play with guns and believed he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The investigation into Deshawnteris's death revealed the need for stricter measures to prevent such tragedies. The charges against the 15-year-old and Karon Schuch underscored the legal consequences of negligence and the unlawful possession of firearms by minors. Deshawnteris's untimely death serves as a somber reminder of the importance of responsible gun ownership and the need to protect children from preventable harm.
