Jeremiah Ricci, 14, died from a single gunshot wound in a Phoenix motel room on the night of August 10, 2025. He and his teenage brother were in the room with their mother, 40-year-old Jewell Griffen, near 27th Avenue and Union Hills Drive when a firearm discharged after Griffen reportedly allowed her sons to handle the weapon. Officers arrived about 10:45 p.m.; Phoenix Fire Department personnel could not revive Jeremiah and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Griffen left the motel briefly after the shooting, returned, and was taken into custody and booked on multiple charges, including child abuse. Homicide detectives were called in and several people who had been in the room were detained for questioning as investigators work to reconstruct what happened. Charging decisions are pending the ongoing investigation.

If anyone was in or near that motel room that night or has information about the firearm involved, please share what you know with investigators.