In the Germantown section of Philadelphia, on a summer afternoon, the life of 13-year-old Christopher 'Chris' Mackey was tragically cut short. On June 29, 2016, the young Black male was with a group of friends when they discovered a loaded gun inside an abandoned house. Believing the weapon was jammed, a 15-year-old friend pulled the trigger. The gun discharged, and a single bullet struck Chris in the face, causing a fatal injury.
The devastating event sent shockwaves through the
community. Family and friends gathered for an emotional vigil, remembering a 'real kind young man.' Amidst their grief, they called for an end to gun violence and urged gun owners to secure their weapons to prevent such tragedies from happening again. Christyanna Mackey, Chris's sister, tearfully expressed her heartbreak and disbelief over the loss of her brother.
In the aftermath of the shooting, two teenagers were taken into custody. The 15-year-old who fired the weapon was charged with involuntary manslaughter. A second teenager who was present during the incident faced lesser charges. Authorities reported that the teens found the revolver along with stolen jewelry in the vacant home on East Walnut Lane. The investigation determined the shooting to be a tragic accident.
