Three-year-old Kayden Josiah-Ray Swinnely died on February 2, 2024, in Greenville, North Carolina, after a self-inflicted gunshot wound at about 10 p.m. at a family member’s residence on Beech Street. Emergency responders took Kayden to ECU Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts.

Greenville Police investigated and found that a teenager in the home had gained access to a firearm kept in a locked gun box. The teenager broke into the box, removed the gun, and was handling it while Kayden was present. The firearm was later left unattended in an unsecured drawer, where Kayden found it and the weapon discharged. The family cooperated with police, and after consultation with the District Attorney’s Office authorities concluded the death was an accident; no charges were filed against the adults in the home.

The Greenville Police Chief stressed educating children about gun safety and keeping firearms stored so minors cannot access them. Does anyone in the area have information about safe-storage outreach or programs that could help prevent incidents like this?