On the afternoon of June 30, 2022, four-year-old Immanuel Alonzo Ethridge was at his home on Olney Drive in Dellwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, with his mother. Matthew Watson-Cook, 22, came home and fell asleep without securing a loaded and chambered semiautomatic pistol. While Watson-Cook slept, the child found the weapon, began playing with it, and accidentally discharged it, shooting himself in the head. First responders attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful, and the child died at the home. Watson-Cook fled the scene before police arrived and initially was not known to have been present, but the investigation later revealed his presence and he admitted to owning the gun. He was charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter.
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 medical examiner report (MO_22_1290.pdf) states the cause of death was "Gunshot wound to the head." The fox2now article states Watson-Cook "fell asleep without securing a loaded and chambered semiautomatic pistol. While Watson-Cook was asleep, the child found the weapon, started playing with and discharged it, shooting himself in the head."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fox2now article states that "Watson-Cook came home knowing the four-year-old boy was home. Investigators say he fell asleep without securing a loaded and chambered semiautomatic pistol." The child then found the weapon and fatally shot himself. Watson-Cook was charged with involuntary manslaughter for this failure to secure the firearm, which constitutes inappropriate supervision of a dangerous item around a young child.
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?
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)?
Matthew Watson-Cook was charged with involuntary manslaughter for leaving an unsecured firearm that the child used to fatally shoot himself. The fox2now article states he "came home knowing the four-year-old boy was home" and that "police believed the child was at home with his mother and no other adults." Watson-Cook lived in the home with the child and the child's mother, but has a different surname than the child (Ethridge vs. Watson-Cook), implying he was the mother's boyfriend or partner rather than the child's biological 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)?
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 fox2now article states: "Authorities arrested Matthew Watson-Cook, 22, of St. Louis, in the investigation. Watson-Cook, who faces only one felony charge, is jailed on a $100,000 bond." The firstalert4 article states: "Watson-Cook was charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, and the court set his bond at $100,000 cash only."
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
Two notable details emerge from the text. First, Watson-Cook fled the scene before police arrived, and initially misled investigators about his presence: the fox2now article states "based on information provided that day, police believed the child was at home with his mother and no other adults. The investigation later revealed Cook-Watson was at the home. Investigators say he ran away from the home after the boy shot himself before officers arrived." Second, the medical examiner report classifies the manner of death as "Homicide," while the news articles describe the shooting as accidental and self-inflicted by the child. This classification reflects the forensic/legal determination that the death resulted from another person's criminal negligence rather than an intentional act of violence.
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