On January 8, 2023, 12-year-old James Lett Jr. was fatally shot while hanging out with friends at a home on the 2600 block of East 111th Avenue in Tampa, Florida. The incident occurred after James had spent the previous day visiting various family members, a day that his family would later reflect on as him saying his goodbyes.
James was at the home of Demetrius Miller, where several other juveniles, including Miller's 15-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, were present.
According to the investigation, one of the boys at the home admitted to pulling the trigger but claimed he did not know the gun was loaded. The bullet struck James in the back of the head, exited through his forehead, and then hit a 15-year-old boy in the mouth.
Police received a 911 call shortly before 1 p.m. reporting a possible shooting. Upon arrival, officers found James on the floor of a bedroom with a gunshot wound and a second boy holding a pack of hot dogs to his face, also injured. The 15-year-old boy was taken to Tampa General Hospital for treatment.
The investigation revealed that multiple juveniles at the home had been handling the firearm in a reckless manner, pointing it at each other for fun. The 14-year-old boy who admitted to the shooting was later arrested and charged with manslaughter with a weapon. He was to be prosecuted as an adult, as decided by the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office.
James Lett Jr. was a seventh grader at Greco Middle School and was known for his happy and smiling demeanor. He loved playing football and video games, particularly Fortnite. His family described him as mature beyond his years, taking care of his cousins, step-kids, and step-grandkids. A memorial service was held for James at Exciting Faith Alive Church in Tampa, and he was buried at Rest Haven Cemetery.
James's mother, Latrina Jackson, expressed mixed emotions upon learning of the arrest, grateful for the thorough investigation but sad that another mother's child was now facing the justice system. She hoped that her son's death would serve as a lesson to other children, encouraging them to put down guns and change their lives.
