Daniel Waye III was 6 when he died on June 15, 2021, after an accidental shooting in a Jacksonville home. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Danny was in a bedroom watching television when he found a loaded handgun and shot himself in the head. He was taken to a hospital and later died.

Investigators found the firearm had been improperly stored. A 14-year-old boy known to the family — not related to Danny — had possession of the gun earlier that day and was charged with culpable negligence for failing to secure it. Seven occupants of the home were detained for questioning and the Florida Department of Children and Families removed other children from the residence as a precaution. Danny’s parents were serving prison sentences on drug convictions and were not at the home.

The family described Danny as a sweet, curious child. What details might help prevent similar tragedies in other households with children and unsecured firearms?