Thirteen-year-old Hawken Hemmerle of Cincinnati, Ohio, died on June 29, 2014, after being accidentally shot at his home in Green Township. The shooting occurred when a 13-year-old friend, who had taken a gun from another teenager’s grandfather’s house and brought it to Hawken’s home, fired a shot that struck Hawken. The friend said he did not intend to harm Hawken; he was charged with reckless homicide and theft of a firearm, later pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to a mental treatment facility rather than juvenile detention.

Hawken’s stepmother found his body and attempted CPR; family and friends described profound disbelief, anger and lasting trauma. The community held a vigil in his memory. The case underlines the deadly consequences of handling firearms irresponsibly and sparked discussion about gun safety education for young people.