In an Oklahoma City apartment on January 15, 2022, the life of a bright-eyed and playful three-year-old boy named Christian Lesley was tragically cut short. Christian, a Black male, was in the care of his mother's partner along with his two siblings on that fateful morning. His mother was incarcerated at the time, leaving her partner responsible for the children's welfare.
The morning unfolded like any other, with the caregiver tending to the children's needs.
However, a visitor in the apartment, 22-year-old Kirk Chance, had brought a loaded handgun with him. Chance had placed the firearm on the floor under the bed where he was sleeping. While the caregiver was occupied, young Christian wandered over to where Chance was sleeping and discovered the unsecured weapon. In a moment of innocent curiosity, the child accidentally discharged the firearm, inflicting a fatal gunshot wound to his own face.
The sudden and horrifying sound of the gunshot jolted both the caregiver and Chance awake. Their immediate discovery of what had transpired sent Chance into a panic. Instead of rendering aid or immediately calling for help, he grabbed the gun and fled the apartment. It was only after the urging of his mother and brother that he later surrendered to the authorities.
Following a year-long investigation into the devastating incident, the Oklahoma County District Attorney charged Kirk Chance with second-degree manslaughter. During the legal proceedings, Chance admitted to his negligent act of leaving a loaded gun accessible in a room with young children. The loss of Christian, described by his grandmother as a happy and smart child, left his family heartbroken and grappling with the senselessness of his death.
