Ja’Cari Corey Ellis was a 5-year-old boy from Saint Petersburg who died on May 9, 2020, after an accidental shooting at his home at 3788 18th Terrace S. The shooting occurred in the afternoon, around 2:30 p.m.; officers found Ja’Cari with a gunshot wound and he was taken to All Children’s Hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.

Authorities reported that Ja’Cari somehow gained access to a firearm, and the St. Petersburg Police Department opened an investigation to determine how he obtained the gun and who owned it.

Ja’Cari is survived by his mother, Yolanda Williams, his father, Corey Ellis Jr., and his brother, De'Untavius Brown Jr. The case has underscored community concerns about gun safety and securing firearms away from children.

If anyone knew Ja’Cari or has information about how he accessed the firearm, please come forward to investigators.