Demond Tyrone Boykins, 40, died on January 28, 2021, after being found with a gunshot wound outside Kay’s Food Store at 1421 22nd Street South in Saint Petersburg, Florida. He was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg in critical condition and died later that day.

The death was initially treated as a suspected homicide, but detectives later reviewed surveillance footage and concluded the shooting was accidental. Video showed Boykins stumble and fall in the store parking lot, causing a bag he was carrying to strike the pavement; a firearm inside the bag discharged and struck him in the head. The St. Petersburg Police Department examined the weapon and bullet trajectory and found no evidence of foul play; no arrests or charges were made.

Boykins was memorialized at a graveside service at Royal Palm South Cemetery. If anyone witnessed the incident or has information that was not collected during the investigation, please share what is known.