On August 15, 2023, an 8-year-old boy named Jacari A. Brown was fatally shot in an accidental shooting in the East Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. inside a home located in the 3100 block of West Flournoy Street.
Jacari was with his cousin, who is the 9-year-old son of Ramon Sumerlin, the homeowner, when the accident happened.
The two boys were searching for a TV remote in Sumerlin's bedroom and found a Glock 19 firearm under a mattress. When Jacari grabbed the gun, his cousin attempted to take it away, but the gun discharged, striking Jacari in the chest.
Following the shooting, an adult in the home immediately called 911, and police rushed Jacari to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The 9-year-old cousin placed the firearm back under the mattress after the incident but later informed police about what had happened and led them to the weapon.
Ramon Sumerlin, 41, was out for the evening between August 14-15, leaving Jacari and his son with four other adults at the home. Sumerlin was subsequently arrested and charged with child endangerment resulting in death and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. At the time of his arrest, Sumerlin was on probation in Livingston County for a separate aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charge. He appeared in court and was held on a $10,000 D-bond, with a scheduled hearing set for September 19.
The investigation revealed that items belonging to Sumerlin, including mail and medication, were found in the bedroom where the gun was discovered, further linking Sumerlin to the firearm. The Cook County medical examiner's office confirmed Jacari A. Brown as the victim of the accidental shooting.
