In a heart-wrenching incident on April 29, 2014, in Wichita, Kansas, a 1-year-old Black/African American male toddler named TyMarion Savoy Blacknell lost his life in what was determined to be a tragic accident. The young boy, just 19 months old, was fatally shot in the chest inside his family's home.
The devastating event unfolded when TyMarion and his two older siblings, a 4-year-old brother and a 3-year-old half-sister, were playing in a bedroom. The children discovered a loaded 9mm pistol stored in a nightstand drawer. In a moment of childish curiosity, the 4-year-old boy handled the firearm and pulled the trigger. A single bullet discharged, traveling through the drawer and striking his younger brother.
At the time of the shooting, the children's 33-year-old father and his 22-year-old brother were present in the living room of the house. Upon hearing the gunshot, they rushed to the bedroom and immediately transported the critically injured toddler to the hospital. Despite their swift actions and the efforts of medical personnel, TyMarion succumbed to his injuries approximately 45 minutes after arriving.
Wichita Police Department officials were called to the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. They described the incident as a "terrible, terrible tragedy." Early in the investigation, it was noted that the 4-year-old child seemed to have been aware of the gun's location. While the investigation was ongoing, authorities indicated that the father could potentially face charges in connection with his son's death. However, online sources available do not contain information regarding any arrests or the filing of criminal charges against any individual in this case.
