Aylee Eden Alexandra Gordon was 3 years old when she died following an accident on December 25, 2021, in Hendersonville, North Carolina. A 9-mm handgun left in the backseat of her father’s pickup was discharged while she was handling it. Aylee was airlifted to Mission Hospital, underwent emergency neurosurgery, never regained consciousness and was declared brain dead on December 28, 2021.

The firearm belonged to 28-year-old Samuel Gordon, a stepbrother who was visiting for the Christmas holiday. Aylee’s father, retired patrol sergeant Tim Gordon of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, was driving when the shooting occurred. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation found the gun had been improperly stored in the front passenger door storage slot and concluded the child accidentally discharged the weapon.

Henderson County District Attorney Andrew Murray reviewed the report and determined the death was a catastrophic accident from improper storage; no state laws were violated and no charges were filed. Anyone with information about the case or who knew Aylee or the family is asked to come forward.