A Georgia family was stunned when Miyell Hernandez, 4, shot himself in his mother’s car as she went grocery shopping. According to Dekalb County Police, the boy was in the car with his 8-month-old sister and 13-year-old cousin on Sunday evening (February 28). His mother had gone to a Publix supermarket to buy a birthday cake for Miyell’s grandfather, his father-in-law. Miyell was taken to hospital after the 13-year-old cousin rushed to the grocery store for help, but the boy died briefly from his injuries. According to the police, no charges have yet been filed.
According to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Miyell became the sixth child to be killed by gunfire in downtown Atlanta this year and the second in five days. Another four-year-old shot himself in the head on January 29 in Louisiana while riding in a vehicle. There were two people in the front of the car, including his mother. His father’s pistol was left unattended in the back seat, authorities said at the time.
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The firearm used to murder Miyell was also unsecured in the car. April Griffin, his maternal grandmother, said her daughter didn’t own a gun and the family had no idea where she came from. Griffin explained that she and her grandchild were quite close. She continued, “We talked the whole time. I’ve never felt this kind of love. I never thought anyone could love me like that.” According to Griffin, Miyell liked to keep his toys nearby when he bathed or went to sleep, and he was looking forward to a vacation to Disney World this summer. The family set up a Go Fund Me page to help with Miyell’s funeral expenses. The page reads: “Keep us in your prayers. We ask for your love and support to fund a tragic moment for our family. We would like to pay for our nephew’s funeral instead of cremation. Thank you for your love and support.”
According to 11Alive, Maria Hernandez, Miyell’s other aunt and the 13-year-old’s mother, said, “No one knew there was a gun in the vehicle,” adding that her daughter was sitting in the passenger seat listening to music when the gun went off and smoke enveloped the car. “When she turned around, she saw my nephew… she went for help and that was it. Two passers-by called 911 and he was gone,” Ms. Hernandez said. Miyell was described by her as “the cutest kid ever”. She explained: “All he ever wanted was to be held, to be told he was loved and to be kissed. He wanted you to hold his hand the whole time because he adored his little sister and was over the moon when that time came.”
Dekalb Police Chief Mirtha Ramos said in a statement, “Our hearts and thoughts are with the Hernandez family.” She added that the agency “implores gun owners to always keep their guns safe.” She also stated that the Dekalb County Police Department will unveil a gun safety program on March 19, with a focus on child safety, where they will donate free gun locks to the public. Ramos expressed her hope that the public will be willing to make small but easy efforts to save children’s lives. She added: “Something as simple as this can save a life. We don’t need your ID, we don’t need to know what gun you have, we don’t ask for any paperwork.”
Disclaimer: This is based on sources and we have not been able to independently verify this information.
