On March 30, 2020, 12-year-old Sean Rose of Bessemer, Alabama, was fatally wounded by a gunshot to the head while playing with a handgun with his older brother. Emergency responders transported Sean to a nearby hospital, but his injuries were fatal and he was pronounced dead. Authorities described the shooting as a tragic accident arising from the siblings’ handling of the firearm.

The older brother, 17 at the time, became the subject of a criminal investigation and was charged with manslaughter by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. Because he was a juvenile, the case proceeded through the juvenile justice system; public details about the legal outcome have not been released. The family and community were left confronting the loss and the dangers of firearms around children.

If anyone knew Sean or has information about the circumstances that day, please share what you know with investigators.