On the morning of July 1, 2017, 5-year-old Jayden Pempleton died at his home on Cromwell Street in Jackson, Mississippi from a gunshot wound to the face. Emergency services transported Jayden to Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital around 10:55 a.m., but he was pronounced dead despite medical efforts.

The Jackson Police Department, with Commander Tyree Jones leading the inquiry, interviewed Jayden’s father and others who were at the residence and collected evidence and witness statements for crime lab analysis. Investigators concluded the shooting was a tragic accident, found no evidence of foul play or criminal intent, and no charges were filed.

If anyone was at the Cromwell Street home that morning or has information about how the child accessed the firearm, that information could still be important to understanding what happened.