On June 26, 2022, at Lion's Motel in Escambia County, Florida, 1-year-old Kacey Bass was fatally shot when her mother's boyfriend's 7-year-old son retrieved a loaded firearm from a closet shelf and accidentally discharged it while playing with it. The single bullet struck one of Kacey's 2-year-old twin sisters in the chest, exited, and then struck Kacey in the head. The mother, Sakerna Smith, was asleep on the couch in the adjoining room during the incident, and the boyfriend, Roderick Randell, had left the motel. Kacey was declared deceased at the scene. The boyfriend, a convicted felon, returned before law enforcement arrived, removed the gun and drugs from the room, and left again before returning once more. Hair follicle tests on the twins were positive for cocaine and THC. The mother was charged with three counts of child neglect, and the boyfriend was charged with tampering with evidence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, failing to store a firearm in a required manner, and culpable negligence.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The fatality report states: "A hair follicle test was completed on the twins; the results were positive for cocaine and THC." This indicates the children (the 2-year-old siblings) were exposed to/ingested cocaine and THC.
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Both documents describe a firearm incident. The fatality report states: "After he got the gun, he was messing around with it and pulled the trigger." The news article reports: "an 8-year-old -- who is unrelated to the girls -- grabbed his father's gun from the closet, began playing with it and accidentally fired one round at the two victims." The cause of death is listed as "Gunshot Wound of the Head."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report states the department closed the investigation with verified findings of "inadequate supervision." The mother was asleep while four children, including a 7-year-old with access to a loaded firearm, were left unsupervised. The boyfriend had left the premises ("his father was not home and had gone to the store"). The mother was charged with three counts of child neglect.
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)?
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?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The mother, Sakerna Smith, was involved in the death through inadequate supervision. The fatality report states she was asleep on the couch while the children were in the bedroom with access to the boyfriend's loaded firearm. She was charged with "three counts of child neglect." The department verified findings of "inadequate supervision" and "substance misuse-illicit drugs."
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)?
The mother's boyfriend, Roderick Randell (45), is identified in the fatality report as "Mother's Boyfriend." He owned the loaded firearm that was left accessible to children. The fatality report states his charges included "possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, failing to store or leave a firearm in a required manner, and culpable negligence by storing a loaded firearm within the reach or easy access of a minor." The news article confirms he was arrested and identifies him as the boy's father.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
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 states: "The department was last involved with the family in December 2021 regarding allegations of inadequate supervision and a 2019 report involved allegations of household threatens child." These prior reports predate the June 2022 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 fatality report states: "The law enforcement investigation was closed with the mother being charged with three counts of child neglect. The charges against the mother's boyfriend included: tampering with evidence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, failing to store or leave a firearm in a required manner, and culpable negligence by storing a loaded firearm within the reach or easy access of a minor." The news article confirms the boyfriend was "arrested Sunday" on multiple charges. The mother was also arrested per the fatality report: "The mother was arrested and was issued a no contact order with the children."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
The fatality report states: "The mother and her children do not reside where the incident occurred, but had been visiting there with the mother's boyfriend and his child for several days." The news article identifies the location as "Lion's Motel on MLK Jr. Drive," and the fatality report references "surveillance video from the motel" and a "maintenance worker." The incident occurred at a motel, which constitutes temporary shelter.
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The news article states: "Sheriff Simmons says Randall is a 14-time convicted felon" and "Online records show Randall served three different prison sentences for drug charges, fleeing police, and aggravated battery." The fatality report references "possession of a firearm by a convicted felon" as a current charge, which itself confirms prior felony convictions. The three prison sentences for drug charges, fleeing police, and aggravated battery clearly predate the current incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report contains multiple references to substance use by caregivers. The boyfriend's 7-year-old son stated "both adults were smoking cigarettes and 'blunts'." A baggie with "white stuff" was found next to the gun on the closet shelf. The boyfriend was seen on surveillance "running to multiple locations with a white bag in his hand." Hair follicle tests on the twins were "positive for cocaine and THC." The department verified findings of "substance misuse-illicit drugs." The news article reports: "Randall returned to the room and grabbed the gun and drugs before leaving the scene."
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text. First, the initial emergency response was significantly delayed: a maintenance worker called 911 after neighbors reported a gunshot, but upon checking on the occupants, the mother told him it was "just a nosebleed" and "He cancelled the 911 call." Only after a neighbor discovered the chest wound on the 2-year-old and the maintenance worker found Kacey's gunshot wound did he call 911 a second time. Second, the boyfriend tampered with evidence: "The boyfriend went into the rooms, took some things, and left. After law enforcement arrived the boyfriend returned. The surveillance video from the motel showed the boyfriend running to multiple locations with a white bag in his hand." Third, per the news article, "Randall is a 14-time convicted felon" who was "released from Escambia County Jail Sunday on $41,000 bond" and whose "charges did not require him to appear before a judge," raising questions about the judicial handling of a multi-time convicted felon whose unsecured weapon killed a child. Fourth, hair follicle tests on the twins were positive for cocaine and THC, indicating chronic drug exposure of the children in the household.
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