Black/African American male, age 5, Demeir A. Douglas died on Sunday, August 24, 2025, in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood after getting hold of a handgun inside a family apartment on the 4400 block of South Greenwood Avenue. Around 1:15–1:17 p.m., the child was in a bedroom when the shot was fired; he was rushed to Comer Children's Hospital and later pronounced dead.
Chicago police and early reports described the shooting as a tragic, accidental self-inflicted wound after the boy found a gun in his sister's purse while she was showering. The Cook County medical examiner's office recorded his death later that day, and a firearm was recovered at the scene.
Investigators said the handgun belonged to the child's 29-year-old sister, who had a concealed-carry license and a valid Firearm Owner's Identification card. According to charging documents and police summaries reported by local outlets, she had placed the loaded gun in a black zippered purse on a bed, then tucked the purse beneath toys and clothing before stepping into the shower. Moments later, Demeir A. Douglas, age 5, accessed the purse and shot himself in the head.
Chicago police arrested the sister, identified as Danya Bell, within hours of the shooting and charged her with one felony count of child endangerment causing death. A judge later denied prosecutors' request to keep her detained, ordering her release pending trial and directing her to surrender any additional firearms. Coverage in local courts indicated she was scheduled to return to court in mid-September.
Newsrooms continued to piece together the family's final hours before the shooting: the sister had been visiting relatives; the children were preparing to nap; and the gun was left within reach in a bedroom where the 5-year-old played. Pastors and advocates who met relatives at the hospital described the shock and grief that overtook the family as detectives processed the apartment and recovered the weapon. By evening, police confirmed the child's death and said Area 1 detectives were investigating, while community outlets and memorial pages listed Demeir A. Douglas, age 5, among those lost on August 24.
