Jaeden Livingston, a 14 year-old Abilene, Texas boy, died at Cook’s Children Medical Center today after accidentally shooting himself at a friend’s home on Friday night.  He and two boys found a gun in the home and were passing it around, believing it to be unloaded. 

Jaeden’s mother later said, “I explained about the dangers of guns to my kids all the time, but that wasn’t enough. When they get around their friends, it’s the peer pressure of trying to be cool or fit in.”

“There is no law in Texas that requires gun owners to secure your gun inside your home,” according to the owner of a local gun range.  However, it is illegal to provide a child with access to a firearm.  “If [a] child hurts someone with that firearm then the owner can be charged,” he added.

Sources:

Jamie Burch and Nick Bradshaw, “Abilene Teenager Dies After Accidentally Shooting Himself in Head While Playing with Gun,” News4 SA (November 30, 2019).

Jamie Burch, Mother of Abilene Teen Who Accidentally Shot Himself Wants Others to Learn Gun Safety,” KTX12 ABC (December 1, 2019).

John Rupolo, “Family of a 14-year-old Killed Playing with Gun Says His Death Could Have Been Prevented,” KTX12 ABC (December 2, 2019).