In the city of Baltimore, a young life was tragically cut short in January 2025. E'vaa Sewell, a bright and energetic 10-year-old girl, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident occurred while she was at her grandmother's home in the Pimlico neighborhood of Northwest Baltimore. E'vaa, who was known for her curiosity, discovered a pink diamond 9-millimeter handgun in an upstairs bedroom. Believing it may have been a toy, she accidentally shot herself in the head.
She was rushed to Johns Hopkins Hospital for treatment but succumbed to her injuries a few days later, on January 28, just two weeks shy of her 11th birthday.
The community and her family were left heartbroken by the preventable tragedy. E'vaa was remembered as a mature and spirited child with an 'old soul,' who loved to dance and could often be found making TikTok videos. She was a student at Carter Elementary/Middle School, and her death deeply impacted her classmates and the school community. Her pastor, who had known her since infancy, recalled her as a 'strong young lady' full of life.
In the wake of the devastating event, E'vaa's 51-year-old grandmother, Alethea Mitchell, was arrested and faced a series of criminal charges. The investigation revealed that the handgun was unsecured and had been reported stolen from North Carolina in 2017. Mitchell was prohibited from owning a firearm due to a prior criminal conviction. Initially, her public defender stated that Mitchell was distraught and claimed the gun belonged to an ex-boyfriend. However, police alleged the weapon was hers.
Alethea Mitchell was charged with firearm access by a minor, possession of a stolen firearm, firearm possession with a felony conviction, and other handgun-related offenses. Following E'vaa's death, the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office reviewed the evidence for potential additional charges. Ultimately, Mitchell pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment. She was sentenced to nine years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised probation.
