In a moment of sibling rivalry turned tragic, 14-year-old Dijonae White lost her life in Aberdeen, Mississippi. On Saturday, March 17, 2018, what began as a common childhood argument over a video game controller escalated into a fatal incident. Her 9-year-old brother, after being denied the controller, retrieved a. 25 caliber handgun and shot his sister in the back of the head.
Dijonae was rushed to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where she succumbed to her injuries the following day, March 18, 2018.
The shooting occurred at their home on Dryden Lane, while their mother was in another room. The handgun belonged to their mother's live-in boyfriend. When Monroe County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene, they found the young boy in a state of shock and tears. He subsequently confessed to the shooting, explaining that he had become angry when his sister would not relinquish the video game controller. The investigation into how the boy accessed the firearm was a key part of the official inquiry.
Due to the suspect's age, the case was directed to the juvenile court system. In Mississippi, the legal proceedings for a 9-year-old are handled with a focus on rehabilitation rather than punitive measures, and the records of such cases are sealed to protect the minor's privacy. Consequently, the specific legal charges, trial details, and the ultimate outcome of the case against Dijonae's brother have not been made public. Reports at the time indicated that it was an unprecedented situation for the local authorities and the juvenile justice system in the area. The incident sparked discussions regarding child access to firearms and the influence of video games on young children.
