On August 9, 2023, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, 15-year-old Parker James-Allen McNeal was unintentionally shot in his bedroom by a 14-year-old friend. The firearm did not belong to Parker or his family, who were unaware it was in the home. Parker was rushed to Norfolk Sentara General Hospital in critical condition and died from his injuries on August 12, 2023.

Parker enjoyed fishing, video games, and time with friends, and was preparing to start high school on August 28 and to celebrate milestones like his 16th birthday and getting a driver’s license. His mother, Rebecca McNeal, has urged secure gun storage and responsible ownership, saying the need to lock firearms up is vital. The Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office investigated and worked with the district attorney’s office to consider charges; as of the latest report no arrests had been made.

Would anyone with information about how the firearm came to be in the home or who might know more about that night please come forward?