On the evening of September 17, 2023, 70-year-old Thomas Ribby gave his unloaded Glock .45 pistol to his 16-year-old grandson, Royce Hayes Osburn, to play with at their Clinton, Missouri apartment. Ribby later took the gun back, loaded it with a magazine, and placed it in a case by his bed, but the teen retrieved the gun again. Ribby then took the gun from his grandson, removed the magazine but failed to clear the chambered round, pointed the gun at the teen, and pulled the trigger, shooting him in the back. A witness had given Ribby whiskey earlier that evening. The teen stumbled to his mother's bedroom, clutching his chest and saying "Papa shot me," before collapsing outside and later dying at the hospital. Ribby locked himself in the apartment when police arrived and was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death and resisting arrest.
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 was killed by a gunshot from a Glock .45 caliber pistol. The KCTV5 article states that the teen was "suffering from a gunshot injury to the chest." The Kansas City Star article states: "Police said they recovered the Glock .45 in the home tucked in a bookshelf and found a spent shell casing outside on a sidewalk."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The grandfather gave a firearm to a 16-year-old child to "play with," then loaded the magazine into the gun and left it accessible. The KCTV5 article states: "Ribby said he gave the gun to his grandson to play with Sunday evening, but it wasn't loaded at that time. Ribby said he took the firearm away from teenager and placed a loaded magazine in the gun before putting it in the case next to his bed." The teen then removed the loaded pistol. A witness also told police they "observed the victim playing with the firearm and pretended he was clearing rooms" (Fox4KC). Providing a firearm to a child to play with and then loading it and storing it accessibly constitutes inappropriate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The grandfather admitted to pointing his Glock .45 caliber pistol at the teen and pulling the trigger, resulting in the teen being shot in the back/chest. The Inside Edition article states: "Ribby 'admitted to knowingly pointing his Glock .45 caliber pistol at the victim and pulling the trigger believing it was unloaded.'" The KCTV5 article states: "He took the magazine out of the gun, pointed it at his grandson, and pulled the trigger. The teenager was shot in the back." Although the grandfather claims the shooting was accidental, the act of pointing a firearm at the child and pulling the trigger constitutes an inflicted injury.
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)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
The child's maternal grandfather, Thomas Ribby (age 70), shot and killed his 16-year-old grandson. The Inside Edition article states: "Thomas Ribby faces felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child, resulting in death, and resisting arrest." He is the teen's mother's father, as the Fox4KC article confirms: "A Clinton, Missouri, mother witnessed her child's death while her own father is now accused of pulling the trigger."
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?
Thomas Ribby was arrested and charged. The KCTV5 article states: "Prosecutors charged Thomas Ribby with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death. He is also charged with resisting arrest." The Inside Edition article adds: "He pleaded not guilty earlier this week to the charges. He has a scheduled bail reduction hearing on Friday and is being held at the Henry County Detention Center in lieu of $100,000 cash bail."
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?
Multiple sources reference the grandfather consuming whiskey before the shooting. The KCTV5 article states: "Another witness told police she poured Ribby some whiskey earlier in the evening, before the shooting happened." The Kansas City Star article corroborates: "Another person at the apartment told police they gave the suspect a cup of whiskey before the shooting."
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge across the sources. First, the teen aspired to be a police officer, which contextualizes why the grandfather gave him the gun. The Fox4KC article states: "His family said the teen's dream in life was to be a police officer. The detail gives context to a statement Thomas Ribby gave to investigators." A witness observed the teen "playing with the firearm and pretended he was clearing rooms." Second, while the grandfather was charged with endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death rather than a more serious homicide charge such as murder or manslaughter, he faces up to life in prison if convicted. Third, the Fox4KC article reports compounding family trauma: the teen's cousin stated, "my aunt died like three years ago. So like he found my aunt dead," referring to the teen having previously discovered a deceased family member. Fourth, while the grandfather claimed the shooting was accidental, family members reported past conflict between the teen and grandfather, and the Fox4KC article notes the grandfather "continually stated that he had not been fighting with the victim prior to the incident" — suggesting investigators may have questioned whether the shooting was truly accidental.
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