Seven-year-old Shane Nichols died after a handgun discharged while he and his 12-year-old brother were at a neighbor’s house in the Burnt Chimney area of Franklin County. The boys found a .45 caliber handgun while Jeffrey Ireson was babysitting them; a single shot from that firearm killed Shane. Reports describe the circumstances as involving negligence and reckless endangerment related to the firearm being accessible to the children.

Jeffrey Ireson was charged with criminal counts including child abuse, cruelty, and reckless disregard for life stemming from his role as the caregiver when the shooting occurred. Shane’s mother, Jamie Everett, filed a wrongful death civil suit that was later settled for $200,000.

If anyone knew Shane or was familiar with safety concerns in that neighborhood, does anyone have information that could shed more light on how the handgun came to be accessible?