Damien Holmes was 12 when he died after an accidental shooting at his family’s St. Louis home on March 14, 2017. He and his 9-year-old brother were left unsupervised in the 3300 block of Michigan Avenue when they found a firearm and began playing with it; the weapon discharged and struck Damien in the head. Their father returned shortly before 11:00 p.m., transported the boy to a hospital, and Damien was pronounced dead soon after arrival.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police homicide and child abuse detectives investigated how the children accessed the gun and why they had been left alone. A search of the home turned up a handgun, a shotgun, ammunition, and several controlled substances including cocaine base, amphetamines, Tramadol, and marijuana. Investigators determined the father, 41-year-old Donnie Holmes, was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a 1996 felony drug-dealing conviction.

Both parents, Donnie Holmes and 40-year-old Yolanda Jackson, were arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child; Donnie Holmes faced additional counts for unlawful possession of firearms and possession of controlled substances. A judge set cash-only bonds of $300,000 for the father and $200,000 for the mother. Neighbors described Damien as a sweet sixth-grade student at Monroe Elementary School who had his whole life ahead of him.

If anyone knew Damien or has information about how the children accessed the weapons, please share what you know.