Bryson Jackson, a Memphis, Tennessee three-year old, shot himself to death today with an unsecured and loaded AR-15 that he found in his home.  The guns belonged to his mother’s friend, Tedrick Butler.  Bryson’s mom, Tinesha Jackson, had left Bryson and another child at home in the care of an uncle while she and Butler went out to get food. 

Butler’s gun was apparently left loaded on a box in the bedroom under some clothes.  Bryson found it and shot himself in the head while his uncle slept on a couch. 

Both Jackson and Butler were arrested after the incident, although Jackson has since been released. Butler was charged with criminally negligent homicide, possession of a prohibited weapon, tampering with evidence, and possession with intent to sell.  Butler had left other guns in the home including a Glock pistol that had been altered to fire fully automatically.  He apparently admitted to ownership of the gun that Bryson used to shoot himself.

Source:

Rya Wooten, “3-year-old Dies After Shooting Himself With an AR-15 in TN | Mom Charged,” 13 News Now (March 28, 2022).