JaDarrius Lamar Speights was a 3-year-old boy from Tampa who died on May 7, 2013, after an unsecured 9mm handgun discharged while he was alone in a bedroom he shared with his uncle. The gun had been left in a backpack that belonged to his uncle, Jeffrey D. Walker; JaDarrius accessed the backpack and the firearm was accidentally discharged. He was taken to Florida Hospital Tampa but succumbed to his injuries.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office investigated and Walker, 29 at the time, was arrested and charged with culpable negligence. Walker had legally purchased the weapon and held a concealed weapons permit; investigators determined the fatal injury resulted from the gun being left unsecured and accessible to the child. The case focuses on responsibility for safely storing firearms in homes with young children.

If anyone knew JaDarrius or has information about how the gun was stored that day, please share what you know.