On Saturday, March 23, 2024 a 13-year-old teenager died of a single gunshot wound after her mother’s pistol accidentally discharged while the mother was searching for her keys in her purse. The incident happened at around 10 p.m. at their Edgehill Avenue apartment in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dearria Radley was taken to Vanderbilt’s Pediatric Emergency Room, where she was pronounced dead. The Nashville Police Department revealed that the firearm, a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, was unholstered in the mother’s purse, among other items, when it accidentally fired.
De’Ann Radley, the child’s mother, turned to social media to express her anguish and despair over the loss of her daughter. Her posts, filled with capital letters and exclamation marks, conveyed the depth of her grief. “HUG YOUR BABIES TIGHT BC I LOST MINE, WORDS CAN’T DESCRIBE THIS PAIN,” one of her posts read, illustrating the profound impact of the incident on her life. She further articulated her suffering through a video shared on Facebook, where she is seen crying and stating, “I wouldn’t wish this on anybody” and “My baby is gone.”
DeAnne Radley reminisced about her daughter’s love for family gatherings and her talent for singing, noting Dearria’s beautiful eyes and the sweet sound of her voice.
“I didn’t know my gun was loaded in my purse and shot through my bag,” she told NBC affiliate WSMV. “Then I saw the blood.”
Irish Radley, the girl’s grandmother, shared with a local news outlet about her struggle to face the stark new reality without her granddaughter. “I keep hoping it’s all a bad dream, that she’ll walk through that door, or I’ll hear her say, ‘Granny, what you doing?’ But those phone calls, those texts asking to visit, they won’t come anymore. I’ll miss those simple things the most,” she lamented.
The family has started a GoFundMe campaign, seeking $15,000 to manage the unexpected funeral expenses.
The Nashville Police Department’s Youth Services Division is investigating the shooting, currently treating it as accidental. No legal actions have been taken against the mother.
Metro Nashville Public Schools has announced that students requiring emotional support can access grief counseling services.
