In the quiet town of Kelso, Washington, a sleepover between two young friends ended in a devastating tragedy on October 14, 2017. Thirteen-year-old Hispanic/Latino male, Edgar Vasquez, was at his friend's grandparents' home where he was spending the night. The two boys, both 13, were alone when they discovered a shotgun that had been left unsecured. His friend, Dawson A. Dunn, picked up the firearm believing it to be unloaded.
He pointed it at Edgar and pulled the trigger.
The blast from the shotgun struck Edgar in the upper body. Dunn immediately called 911, reporting that he had accidentally shot his friend. When deputies and medical aid arrived at the home in the 1500 block of Carrol Road, they found Edgar with a single shotgun wound. Despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The community was left in shock, and a candlelight vigil was held at Coweeman Middle School, where Edgar was an eighth-grade student, drawing over 100 people to mourn the sudden loss of the young boy.
The investigation that followed led to the arrest of Dawson A. Dunn in November 2017. He was charged with first-degree manslaughter. Dunn told investigators that he had checked the gun, racked the action, and saw a round eject. After racking it a second time, he believed it was empty. During the trial, he expressed deep remorse, stating that he loved Edgar like a brother. In April 2018, a Cowlitz County Juvenile Court judge found Dunn guilty of second-degree manslaughter, concluding that while he did not act recklessly, he had acted with criminal negligence. He was subsequently sentenced to five months in juvenile detention.
The tragic death of Edgar Vasquez spurred his grandmother, Carla Tolle, to become a vocal advocate for gun safety. In her grandson's memory, she campaigned for Initiative 1639, a ballot measure aimed at strengthening gun laws in Washington, including provisions for the secure storage of firearms. The case highlighted the critical importance of responsible gun ownership and the devastating consequences that can arise when firearms are accessible to children. The grandfather who owned the shotgun was not charged in the incident.
