One-year-old Kylin Brooks was fatally shot in the head on August 8, 2023, at a home on Amhurst Avenue in South Bend, Indiana, and died at the hospital the following morning on August 9. Kylin's uncle, 19-year-old Joseph Troupe, had been staying at the home sharing child care duties with Kylin's mother, Savannah Brooks. Troupe had slept with a loaded semiautomatic handgun under his pillow on the floor and reportedly forgot it was there when he awoke that morning. While the adults were in the living room, Kylin and Troupe's 2-year-old son were playing unsupervised in the bedroom where they found the gun, which discharged and struck Kylin in the head. After the shooting, Troupe fled the home in Savannah Brooks' vehicle, taking the gun with him, and hid it in a couch at his own residence before being detained by police. Troupe was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, reckless homicide, and two counts of neglect of a dependent. The official manner of death was ruled as undetermined.
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 vital record (Document 1) lists the cause of death as "GUNSHOT WOUND OF HEAD" with ICD-10 code Y24 (discharge of firearm, undetermined intent). The Yahoo News article states that "One-year-old Kylin Brooks and his 2-year-old cousin came across a handgun Tuesday afternoon that police say was left under a pillow — loaded — on the floor of a bedroom." The ABC57 article confirms: "He had slept with a loaded semiautomatic gun underneath his pillow, which was on the floor, the night before."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The Yahoo News article states: "Troupe said one of his sons and Kylin were playing in the bedroom while he, Savanah and the two toddlers were in the living room when they heard a gunshot." The children were unsupervised in a bedroom where a loaded semiautomatic handgun had been left under a pillow on the floor. The ABC57 article quotes the prosecutor: "We had someone, based on the evidence gathered, who was recklessly leaving a weapon in the vicinity of children, and this is the result." Both the police chief and prosecutor described the death as preventable.
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 Yahoo News article states: "Kylin's mother, Savannah Brooks, was with Kylin's cousins, a 2-year-old girl and 1-year-old boy, in the Amhurst home when police arrived. She told police she and Troupe were sharing child care duties for the past several days." Savannah Brooks was present in the home as one of two caregivers at the time of the shooting, with the children playing unsupervised in the bedroom while she was in the living room. While she was not charged, she was a responsible caregiver present during the fatal incident.
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)
The ABC57 article refers to the firearm as "the gun that shot his nephew," confirming Joseph Troupe is Kylin's uncle. The Yahoo News article also identifies Kylin's cousins as Troupe's children, establishing the familial relationship. Troupe was the adult responsible for the unsecured firearm and was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death and reckless homicide.
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)?
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 Yahoo News article states: "Joseph Troupe, 19, is being held in the St. Joseph County Jail on felony charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, reckless homicide and two counts of neglect of a dependent." The ABC57 article confirms the charges as well.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
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?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text. First, this death is part of a documented pattern: the ABC57 article states "This tragedy marks the 16th time since 2020 a child in South Bend had access to a firearm and hurt someone as a result. Kylin is the fifth to have died." Second, the Yahoo News article notes that "Cotter said that according to the law, Troupe legally was allowed to carry a handgun," highlighting that Indiana's permissive gun laws allowed the 19-year-old to possess the weapon. Third, Troupe fled the scene after the shooting and attempted to conceal evidence: "Investigators said in court documents that Troupe grabbed the handgun from the bedroom and left in Savannah Brooks' vehicle. He allegedly hid the gun in a couch in the back yard of his Cushing Street home before he was detained by police." Fourth, the South Bend Police Department's free gun lock program was prominently featured as a systemic policy response.
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