Giovanni Kopystenski was 5 years old when he died after a gunshot wound sustained inside a parked car in Las Vegas. Giovanni, described by family as playful and loving things like Thomas the Tank Engine and McDonald’s chicken nuggets, was autistic and lived with his father, Alexander V. Kopystenski, who had full custody to accommodate his needs.

On the evening of July 20, 2009, Giovanni was in the drive-through lane of a Walgreens with his father and a family friend. While his father was at the window, the boy found a loaded handgun that had been left unsecured in the vehicle and sustained a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to University Medical Center and pronounced dead in the early hours of July 21, 2009.

The gun was registered to his father, who was arrested and charged with felony child endangerment. He later pleaded guilty to child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm and in August 2011 was sentenced to five years of probation with conditions including staying away from weapons and seeking counseling. Anyone with memories of Giovanni or information about unsecured firearms around children is asked to share what they know.