Gabriel Alexis Henderson, a 25-year-old African American mother of five, died on February 15, 2021, in Cornelius, North Carolina, after a loaded handgun found in her purse was accidentally fired by her children. Police say the children were the only other people in the apartment; the oldest child was in the living room while the other four were in the bedroom where the gun was located. The youngest child was injured and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers found Henderson in a back bedroom with a small semi-automatic handgun nearby and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Cornelius Police Department determined the shooting was accidental and no arrests were made. The community established a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs and support the children. The case underscores the importance of securing firearms and using gun locks to prevent access by children. Did anyone in Cornelius know the family or have information about where the firearm was purchased or stored?