13-year-old Boy Brain Dead After Being Shot By Best Friend

Jonah Tanner, age 13, was accidentally shot by his 16-year-old best friend in a Syracuse, New York home. After shooting Jonah, the friend turned the gun on himself and died at the scene. Jonah has been declared brain dead at the hospital, and is being kept alive so his organs can be donated. 

A GoFundMe page set up by Jonah’s mother describes the boys as “…inseparable, sharing every moment and supporting one another through everything. Their friendship brought so much joy and love to our lives, and their bond was truly special.” Funds donated will help pay for the family’s plan to honor and bury the boys together.

Source:

Darian Stevenson, “13-year-old Syracuse Boy Accidentally Shot by Friend is Brain Dead, Family Says,” syracuse.com (June 28, 2026).