Stephen James Brumby was 14 and died on July 3, 2016, at the High Noon Gun Range in Sarasota, Florida, during a family outing that had been meant to teach gun safety. He was at the range with his father, William Clayton Brumby (listed as William "Clayton" Brumby) and two siblings. A hot shell casing ejected from the gun William was firing, ricocheted off a wall and fell into his shirt; when William reached to remove the casing he inadvertently pointed the firearm behind him and a shot discharged. The bullet struck the ceiling, then ricocheted and fatally struck Stephen.

The event was treated as a tragic accident. William Brumby publicly took responsibility, described the incident as a freak accident, and expressed profound grief and remorse. No arrests or criminal charges were filed after the investigation, and the family did not pursue litigation. Stephen’s death prompted renewed discussion about gun safety, particularly around children and supervision at shooting ranges.