In a heartbreaking incident on October 12, 2022, nine-year-old Lily Nicole Bracey, a female student at Bates Elementary School, tragically lost her life in Jackson, Mississippi. The cause of her death was a fatal, accidental shooting that occurred at the Graystone Hills apartment complex located on Chadwick Drive.
The devastating event unfolded when another nine-year-old child discharged an unsecured firearm, which had been provided by eighteen-year-old Tristan Kimes. The bullet struck Lily, who was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for treatment but ultimately succumbed to her injuries. Following the incident, Kimes was apprehended by the Jackson Police Department. He faced multiple charges, including tampering with evidence, possession of a stolen firearm, contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child, and felonious abuse and/or battery of a child.
The community was left to mourn the sudden and senseless loss of a young life. The Jackson Public School District, where Lily was a student, expressed their profound sadness and made counseling services available to students and staff to help them cope with the tragedy. A neighbor recounted the palpable grief in the community, remembering Lily as a respectful and intelligent child. The investigation revealed that Kimes allegedly discarded the firearm in some nearby bushes after the shooting. There is no publicly available information detailing the outcome of the legal proceedings against Tristan Kimes, including any trial or conviction.
