On January 1, 2023, 9-year-old Jarvis Watts died from multiple gunshot wounds in a home located in the 9400 block of South Wallace Street in the Washington Heights or Brainerd neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. during a New Year's Day gathering at a relative's home, where several adults and children, including Jarvis's siblings, were present.
According to police reports and witness accounts, Jarvis was playing with other children in the home when the shooting occurred. A witness, another child, reported that Jarvis had pointed a gun at his head and accidentally shot himself. However, the exact circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation, and police have not confirmed whether the shooting was accidental or intentional.
The Cook County medical examiner's office ruled Jarvis's death a homicide due to multiple gunshot wounds to the face, neck, and hand. Despite the ruling, police have labeled the incident a death investigation rather than a homicide investigation.
At the time of the shooting, Jarvis's mother was in the kitchen and heard "loud screams" before seeing her son come down the stairs and collapse on the living room floor. Another woman in the home reported hearing a "loud pop" and seeing Jarvis on the floor with wounds, prompting her to call 911.
The gun involved in the shooting has not been found, and police discovered only a spent .45-caliber shell casing and an unused .40-caliber casing at the scene. Several people, including a 27-year-old man, were present in the home but left before police arrived. Police have questioned those who were present but have not yet made any arrests or located the owner of the gun.
Jarvis attended Kipling Elementary School, which is located just across the street from the home where the incident occurred. Neighbors and family members described him as a caring and respectful child who often helped with chores and played with other children in the neighborhood.
Community activists have offered to pay for Jarvis's funeral expenses and are offering a reward for information that could lead to an arrest in the case. The investigation is ongoing, with police seeking to determine the exact circumstances of Jarvis's death and the origin of the gun involved.
