On January 12, 2022, Charvez Akins, a two-year-old boy from Memphis, TN, tragically lost his life due to gun violence. Charvez was at his grandmother's residence on Clayton Avenue when shots were fired inside the home. He was rushed to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital but did not survive his injuries. Charvez was known to be a loving and goofy child who adored Spider-Man and was looking forward to celebrating his third birthday in March.
Following the incident, Tatyana Taylor, a
22-year-old woman who also lived at the residence, was charged with reckless homicide with a deadly weapon, tampering with evidence, and filing a false report. Initially, Taylor claimed that someone outside the house fired the shots, but later changed her story, alleging that a 5-year-old in the house accidentally shot Charvez while playing with an unsecured gun. Taylor eventually admitted to firing a shot into the house herself and then hiding the weapon before police arrived. She had a prior reckless endangerment charge from a 2020 incident where she fired shots at a Taco Bell where she worked.
The investigation into Charvez's death is ongoing, and the community continues to mourn the loss of the young boy. The case has drawn attention to the issue of gun violence and the need for measures to prevent such tragedies in the future. Charvez's family and friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of his funeral and to honor his memory.
The loss of Charvez Akins has deeply affected his family and the community, highlighting the devastating impact of gun violence on young lives. The case remains a poignant reminder of the importance of addressing and preventing such incidents to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
