On April 14, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m., emergency responders in Charlotte, North Carolina, were dispatched to a residence on O’Hara Drive following reports of an assault with a deadly weapon. Upon arrival, they discovered three-year-old Jaxon Zane Truitt suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. The child was immediately transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Investigations revealed that Jaxon had accessed a loaded firearm that had been placed under a couch in the family home. His father, 36-year-old Richard Allen Truitt, admitted to leaving the gun unsecured before going to bed. He was awakened by a loud noise and discovered his son injured, at which point he attempted to administer CPR.
As a result of the investigation, Richard Truitt was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to secure a firearm from a minor. During court proceedings, the child's mother, Paula Layton, pleaded for Truitt's release to allow him to attend their son's funeral. The judge maintained Truitt's bond at $10,000, permitting his attendance at the funeral under the condition of electronic monitoring upon release.
Subsequent reports indicate that on June 7, 2023, Truitt was arrested again following a domestic incident at his residence. He faced additional charges, including assault and resisting arrest, after allegedly pushing Layton, damaging her vehicle, and fleeing from police upon their arrival. Following this incident, Truitt was held without bond.
The tragic death of young Jaxon has underscored the critical importance of firearm safety and secure storage, especially in households with children. Local authorities and community leaders have reiterated calls for responsible gun ownership to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.
