In a tragic turn of events, two-year-old Kiaire Marquis McCoy of Grand Rapids, Michigan, lost his life on May 19, 2023. The young male's death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The incident occurred in Kentwood, a suburb of Grand Rapids. According to police, Kiaire discovered a loaded handgun that had been left unattended and accidentally shot himself. The weapon, a Glock 22.
40 caliber handgun, was reportedly placed between the couch cushion and the armrest by Markus Nevills Jr.
At the time of the incident, Nevills, the 22-year-old ex-boyfriend of Kiaire's mother, was in the home. In statements to detectives, Nevills admitted that he had been smoking marijuana and was 'zoned out' while scrolling on his phone. He acknowledged that he was not paying attention and had positioned himself on the couch with his back to the firearm. He believes Kiaire crawled behind him and gained access to the gun.
Following an investigation into the toddler's death, Markus Nevills Jr. was arrested and is now facing a charge of involuntary manslaughter. During his arraignment, it was stated that he admitted his responsibility for the child's death. The Kent County Prosecutor's Office has characterized the case as one of gross negligence.
