Jaeden Kevon Livingston, a 14-year-old African American male from Abilene, Texas, tragically passed away on November 30, 2019, after accidentally shooting himself in the head while playing with a gun at a friend's house. The incident occurred on the evening of November 29, 2019, at a home in the 800 block of Sunset Drive. Jaeden was with two friends, aged 15 and 16, when the accident happened. The boys were passing around a gun that belonged to one of the friend's parents.
Jaeden, thinking the gun was not loaded, put it to his head and pulled the trigger. He was immediately taken to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, where he succumbed to his injuries the following morning.
The Abilene Police Department investigated the incident and determined that the shooting was accidental. Police Chief Stan Standridge expressed his condolences to Jaeden's family and emphasized the importance of firearm safety. The owner of the gun, one of Jaeden's friend's parents, could potentially face charges for providing access to a firearm, which is considered a misdemeanor under Texas law. The investigation revealed that there was no law in Texas requiring gun owners to secure their firearms inside their homes, but it is illegal to allow children under 17 to gain access to a firearm.
Jaeden's family, including his parents Anthony Livingston and Jennifer McGhee, were devastated by the loss. His stepmother, Cherie Armstrong, spoke out about the preventable nature of the accident, urging gun owners to secure their firearms to prevent similar tragedies. The Abilene Independent School District provided counselors for students and staff at Madison Middle School, where Jaeden was a student, to help them cope with the loss.
In the aftermath of Jaeden's death, a GoFundMe page was created to help his family with medical bills and lodging expenses for his mother in Fort Worth. The community rallied around the family, offering support and condolences during this difficult time. The tragic incident highlighted the need for increased awareness and education about firearm safety to prevent future accidents involving children.
