On January 12, 2022, two-year-old Kayden Lewis was fatally shot inside a north Phoenix apartment near 19th Avenue and Thunderbird Road. His father, Joshua Lewis, had left a loaded handgun accessible to Kayden and a three-year-old sibling. Both parents were in the room playing on TikTok when the gun discharged, striking Kayden in the chest. It was never determined whether Kayden shot himself or whether the three-year-old fired the weapon. He was transported to a children's hospital, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency department. The father was arrested and charged with child abuse recklessness, with bond set at $250,000. The family had five prior CPS reports involving the mother dating back to 2014, involving allegations of domestic violence, substance use, and neglect.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The child's death resulted from a firearm incident. The fatality report states "he was shot with a handgun." The ME report lists cause of death as "GUNSHOT WOUND OF CHEST" with submanner "FIREARM." Multiple news articles describe the accidental shooting in detail, including that the father "kept a loaded gun in a location accessible to the child" (ABC15).
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Multiple sources describe inappropriate supervision. The fatality report states the Court found the mother "failed 'to provide a safe and stable home environment and proper supervision.'" The ABC15 article states "the child's father, 29-year-old Joshua Lewis, kept a loaded gun in a location accessible to the child." The Fox10 article reports Lewis "admitted to leaving his gun within reach of Kayden and another three year old child" while both parents "were both in the room" playing on TikTok.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
The fatality report (Statement-fatality-KL.pdf) references prenatal substance exposure for siblings on two occasions: the September 4, 2014 report states "Ms. Bailey tested positive for marijuana while pregnant," and the September 9, 2018 report states "Ms. Bailey gave birth to a substance exposed newborn." Both involved siblings of Kayden.
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Joshua Lewis, identified as the child's father, was directly involved. The ABC15 article states: "Officials say the child's father, 29-year-old Joshua Lewis, kept a loaded gun in a location accessible to the child." The Fox10 article confirms "the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Lewis, admitted to leaving his gun within reach of Kayden." He was arrested and charged with child abuse recklessness.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother Amanda Bailey was present in the room when the shooting occurred. The fatality report states the Court found she "failed 'to provide a safe and stable home environment and proper supervision.'" The Fox10 article states "Bailey told police that she was playing on TikTok when they heard a shot fired" and that she and Lewis "were both in the room." While she was not charged, her failure to supervise contributed to the circumstances of the death.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
A 3-year-old sibling may have been involved. The ABC15 article states: "Lewis initially told officers he did not know if the two-year-old shot himself or if the weapon was fired by a three-year-old child who was also inside the apartment." The ME report similarly notes: "It was unclear whether the decedent shot himself or if the decedent was shot by someone else." It remains undetermined whether the sibling fired the weapon.
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The fatality report extensively documents prior CPS reports: September 4, 2014 (neglect to a sibling by Ms. Bailey regarding marijuana use while pregnant); March 9, 2015 (neglect to a sibling involving domestic violence); September 9, 2018 (neglect to a sibling involving a substance-exposed newborn and a suicide attempt); February 3, 2021 (physical abuse and neglect to Kayden and a sibling); August 14, 2021 (neglect to a sibling involving the mother's arrest for assault). Five separate reports were received before the fatal incident.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The father, Joshua Lewis, was arrested and charged. The ABC15 article states: "He was booked into jail on one count of child abuse recklessness." The AZCentral article confirms: "The father of the toddler who was accidentally shot and killed in Phoenix Wednesday afternoon was arrested in connection with the death."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report documents multiple instances of domestic violence involving Ms. Bailey. The March 9, 2015 report states "the adults had gotten into a physical fight in the presence of the child." The February 3, 2021 report states "both of the children were in the other adult's arms when the mother began to hit the other adult." The August 14, 2021 report states "the mother had been arrested due to assaulting another adult in the presence of the child."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report references the mother's mental health in the September 9, 2018 report: "she had a suicide attempt recently."
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states in the August 14, 2021 report that "the mother had been arrested due to assaulting another adult in the presence of the child." This arrest predates the child's death on January 12, 2022 and is separate from the fatal incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report references substance use by the mother, Amanda Bailey. The September 4, 2014 report states "Ms. Bailey tested positive for marijuana while pregnant." The September 9, 2018 report states "Ms. Bailey gave birth to a substance exposed newborn."
Notable Details
Several systemic issues are documented. The fatality report shows that the family had five prior CPS reports spanning 2014 to 2021, yet none resulted in substantiated findings or sustained intervention. Two investigations (February 2021 and August 2021) were closed because the family could not be located or had left the state, with the fatality report noting "the Department closed the case as unable to locate" and "the mother had left the state; therefore, an investigation could not be completed." Additionally, after the March 2015 investigation, "the family was offered in-home services at the conclusion of the investigation but the family declined to participate" with no further action taken. The manner of death was officially ruled undetermined by the ME because "It was unclear whether the decedent shot himself or if the decedent was shot by someone else," despite the father being charged with child abuse recklessness.
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