A 3-year-old boy, Benjamin Eugene Cope Jr., was killed by a gunshot on December 24, 2021, in a home near Independence and Glenwood Avenues in Independence, Missouri. Initial reports suggested a drive-by shooting, but detectives later concluded the child was struck inside the residence after handling a firearm that was on the lap of 23-year-old Ashton Cleveland; the weapon discharged and hit Benjamin in the head. The toddler was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

After the shooting, Cleveland left the house by vehicle and was involved minutes later in a crash about four miles away at Truman and Noland Roads, where he failed to stop at a red light and struck another car carrying a family; a mother suffered a concussion and a five-year-old child was also in that vehicle. Cleveland fled the collision scene on foot, then traveled by rideshare to Omaha, Nebraska, where he was arrested after attempting to break into a pickup and charged locally with theft. Missouri prosecutors filed a felony count for leaving the scene and said the investigation into Benjamin’s death was ongoing, with potential additional charges under review.

Does anyone have information about how the firearm came to be accessible in the home or about witnesses to the events that evening?