Decatur, GA — A tragic incident unfolded in Decatur, Georgia, on Thursday afternoon when 5-year-old Jeremiah George Jr. was accidentally shot and killed by his twin brother.
According to the DeKalb Police Department, the shooting occurred after the twins were playing in their mother’s bedroom and found a loaded, unsecured gun inside her purse, which was left on a bedside table.
A Heartbreaking Accident
At approximately 2:30 p.m., police responded to a call at an apartment in the 4400 block of Pleasant Point Drive. They found Jeremiah, suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, but he later died from his injuries.
The surviving twin accidentally shot his brother while handling the gun. Authorities confirmed that no other adults were present in the home at the time of the shooting.
Charges Against the Mother
The children’s mother, Lanecia Bennett, 25, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder and child cruelty in connection with her son’s death.
Bennett was taken into custody on the same day and was initially held without bond at the DeKalb County Jail. A judge later set her bond at $30,000, which Bennett has since posted.
A Call for Gun Safety
As investigators continue to piece together the events of the tragic shooting, DeKalb Police Public Information Officer Blaine Clark urged gun owners to take extra precautions to prevent such incidents.
“If they have guns, it’s important for owners to do what they can to keep guns out of the hands of children,” Clark said in a press release. He also highlighted that the department offers free gun safes to some firearm owners in an effort to reduce such tragedies.
Grieving Family and Community Impact
In a bond motion filed in DeKalb County Superior Court, Bennett’s attorneys expressed her grief over the loss of her son, stating, “Ms. Bennett is grieving this heart-wrenching and unexpected loss of her son. Her other son needs her during this extraordinarily difficult time.”
They also mentioned that Bennett is now tasked with planning her son’s funeral.
Local neighbors expressed their shock and sadness at the incident. Chase Houle, a nearby resident, shared his emotional reaction, saying, “That could be my child, that could be anyone’s child. I instantly got emotional — like I said, I have a three-year-old and a four-year-old. So, yeah, that was really emotional.”
This heartbreaking accident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper gun storage and the devastating consequences that can arise when firearms are left unsecured, particularly around children.
Authorities and neighbors alike are left to grapple with the loss of a young life and the profound impact on the family.
