On January 12, 2022, 1-year-old Saint Bailey was fatally shot at a home on Harwell Road in northwest Atlanta when another child in the home found an unsecured firearm left in the room by the child's mother, Amaiya Dachanel Williams, and fired it, striking Saint in the head. The child was rushed to a hospital but died three days later on January 15, 2022. Williams, age 22, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for failing to secure the firearm. Police reported that family members and other people were inside the home at the time of the shooting.
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 official record (GA_22_1165.pdf) states the cause of death was "Gunshot wound of the head." The AJC article states "another child in a Harwell Road home found an unsecured gun and fired it." The Fox5 article confirms "the other child got a hold of the weapon and fired it, hitting the toddler." The NY Daily News article states "one of the children discovered the weapon and then used it to shoot the 1-year-old." All sources confirm a firearm incident.
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The NY Daily News article states: "Police said Williams left two young children alone in a room where she also kept her firearm." The Fox5 article states that "the firearm used in the shooting was left unsecured in the room with the victim and another child." The children were left unsupervised with an unsecured firearm, constituting clearly inappropriate supervision.
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?
Multiple sources identify the child's biological mother, Amaiya Dachanel Williams, as responsible for the death. The Fox5 article states: "Police arrested the child's mother, identified as 22-year-old Amaiya Williams and charged her with murder in the second degree." The NY Daily News states: "She's accused of failing to secure her gun, which ultimately resulted in her young daughter's death." The AJC article confirms the mother was arrested in connection with the shooting 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?
The NY Daily News article states: "Police said Williams left two young children alone in a room where she also kept her firearm. The tragedy occurred on Jan. 12, after one of the children discovered the weapon and then used it to shoot the 1-year-old." The fact that the mother left both children in a room together implies they were both in her care, suggesting the other child may have been a sibling. However, no source explicitly identifies the other child's relationship to the victim as a sibling; they are only referred to as "another child."
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?
Multiple sources confirm that the child's mother, Amaiya Dachanel Williams, was arrested and charged. The Fox5 article states: "Thursday, Police arrested the child's mother, identified as 22-year-old Amaiya Williams and charged her with murder in the second degree." The NY Daily News states: "Amaiya Dachanel Williams was booked into the Fulton County Jail on Thursday on a charge of second-degree murder."
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
The news articles describe a broader pattern of accidental child shootings in Atlanta. The NY Daily News article notes: "Since November, at least four children have been shot by other children or have shot themselves in Atlanta." Police issued public statements urging gun owners to secure their weapons: "It is not our goal to add to the tragedy in making these arrests, but we must hold those accountable whose recklessness or complacency leads to the loss of life." Additionally, there is a notable discrepancy across sources regarding the child's gender — the official public record (Document 1) identifies the decedent as Male and the AJC article refers to the child as the mother's "son," while the Fox5 and NY Daily News articles refer to the child as a girl/daughter.
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