Christopher Scurry Jr., an 8-year-old boy from Jacksonville, tragically died on July 15, 2016, in Port Orange, Florida. According to reports, Christopher was visiting his grandmother, Sabrina Potter, along with his 12-year-old brother for the summer. On that fateful day, Christopher accidentally shot himself in the right side of his torso with a 9 mm handgun.
The incident occurred at his grandmother's home, where he was under the supervision of his 80-year-old great-grandfather.
The firearm involved in the incident was reported stolen from South Daytona. It was one of 43 firearms stolen from SCCY Industries in 2009 by former employees of the firearms producer. Despite this, Christopher's mother, Davina Gooden, mentioned that she was unaware of the presence of the gun in her mother's home. She believed her mother legally owned a gun and would visit the shooting range, but she had no knowledge of the stolen firearm.
The Port Orange police responded to the scene after a neighbor called 911. The neighbor, Eric Salviolo, reported that Christopher's brother had come to his house covered in blood, screaming that his brother had been shot. Salviolo attempted to perform chest compressions on Christopher until the police arrived. Unfortunately, Christopher was found lying in a pool of blood and was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to the hospital.
The police investigation revealed that the shooting was accidental. No charges were filed against any family members, and the case was treated as a tragic accident. The police chief, Thomas Grimaldi, stated that it was unclear where Christopher found the gun, and the investigation was ongoing at the time. The incident report was released, but supplemental reports were withheld as the case remained under investigation.
Christopher's death was a devastating blow to his family, especially since they were still mourning the loss of his father, who had died of cancer just nine months earlier. Christopher was described as a smart, straight-A student who loved to read and excelled at math. He had a passion for football and aspired to be a rapper, with his favorite artist being the late Notorious B.I.G.
