Thomas Gage Skipper, a 25-year-old resident of Nassau County, Florida, was tragically killed in an accidental shooting on January 13, 2024, at a home in Yulee. The incident occurred while Skipper was hanging out with friends, including Tyler Shepperd, at a residence on St. John Court. The group was watching a football game between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to witnesses and police reports, the accident involved a handgun that Skipper had brought out during the gathering. Skipper, who went by his middle name Gage, had unloaded the gun, removed the magazine, and then handed it to Shepperd. Believing the gun was unloaded, Shepperd pointed it at Skipper and pulled the trigger, resulting in a fatal shot.
Shepperd, 26, and Skipper were close friends and former Marines who had enlisted together in 2017. Skipper served in the U.S. Marine Corps until 2019, while Shepperd served until 2021. After the shooting, Shepperd immediately called 911 to report the incident. First responders from the Nassau County Sheriff's Office and Nassau County Fire Rescue attempted life-saving measures, but Skipper was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.
The investigation revealed that Skipper had been carelessly handling the handgun before handing it to Shepperd. Shepperd told police that Skipper had "dry fired" the gun before giving it to him, and he did not believe it was loaded when he pulled the trigger. Despite this, Shepperd's actions were deemed negligent, and he was arrested and charged with manslaughter. He was released from jail on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court in February.
Skipper's family, particularly his mother, Sharon Skipper, expressed deep sorrow over the loss but emphasized that they do not harbor any ill will towards Shepperd. Instead, they asked the community to pray for Shepperd and his family, acknowledging the incident as a tragic accident. Skipper was remembered for his witty and smart nature, his love for animals, and his devotion to his faith. A funeral service for him was held in Fernandina Beach.
The incident has left a profound impact on the community, with neighbors and friends expressing their heartbreak over the loss. Edgar Roberts, a neighbor who lives next door to the home where the shooting occurred, described the event as a terrible tragedy and expressed his concern for all the families involved.
