Raymond Gaines Jr., a 3-year-old boy, died on December 29, 2014, in Tallahassee, Florida, after sustaining a gunshot wound to the face and an additional injury to the back of his head while visiting his maternal grandmother’s home on Dover Street. The child was found in a bedroom after his uncle, Jaleel Taylor, heard a gunshot and went inside. Emergency responders located Raymond lying on the bedroom floor.

A silver .380 semi-automatic firearm with the serial number removed was recovered from a shoebox in the home. Taylor, 20 at the time, acknowledged ownership of the gun and said he usually kept it in a box; the grandmother said she was unaware of the firearm. A search of the residence also turned up 233 grams of marijuana. An autopsy found that Raymond died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and Taylor was charged with culpable negligence, possession of a firearm by a delinquent, and possession of a firearm with the serial number removed. The Tallahassee Police Department continued investigating, and the Department of Children and Families reported no prior contact with the child before his death.

If anyone knew Raymond or has information about the circumstances at the home that night, please share what you know.