In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Gaffney, South Carolina, the life of 14-year-old Zakius Joshua Davis was tragically cut short. On February 12, 2023, the young man was at the home of an assistant basketball coach when he came across a. 380 handgun in a kitchen cabinet.
According to the Cherokee County Coroner's Office, what happened next was a devastating accident. In a moment of youthful indiscretion, Zakius began to play with the firearm while singing.
A 13-year-old teammate who was present witnessed the tragic event unfold. Zakius reportedly pressed the gun to his chest, and it discharged. He collapsed and died at the scene just before 1 a.m.
The coroner ruled the shooting an accident, describing it as an 'absolute tragic event.' In the wake of the incident, the coroner issued a public plea for adults to ensure that children are protected from having access to weapons, whether they are loaded or not. Zakius was a student who had attended Ewing Middle and Gaffney High School and was remembered as a sweet and funny individual who loved to laugh. He was active in his church, where he played the drums, and was a passionate basketball player in both AAU and YMCA leagues.
