On the evening of November 25, 2017, 13-year-old Carl Fowler was killed in Hickory Hill, Memphis, when a shotgun discharged at a friend’s house and struck him in the head. Carl was at a friend’s home playing video games with two other boys when one of them, also 13, introduced the firearm. The friend holding the shotgun, identified as Montez Carr, reportedly dragged Carl down the driveway and then called 911. Carl was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities treated the shooting as an accidental discharge; Carr was taken into custody and charged with reckless homicide and made a first appearance in juvenile court, where he was ordered to remain in detention. Schoolmates and the community mourned Carl, a Kirby Middle School student who was captain of his basketball team, kept good grades, and was one of twelve children raised by a single mother. A candlelight vigil was held and a fundraiser was set up to help with funeral costs. The family publicly expressed forgiveness and used the tragedy to urge parents to secure firearms.