On January 14, 2024, four-year-old Gabriel was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head at a home on Mill Street in Eldon, Missouri. His father, Albert Keel, was the sole guardian in the home while the child's mother, Samantha Appleberry, was at work. Keel admitted to staying up until approximately 6:00 a.m. playing video games and leaving a fully loaded handgun on a table in the living room before going to bed. While Keel slept, the unsupervised child found the accessible firearm and fatally shot himself. Keel told investigators he did not hear the gunshot and called someone else before calling 911. Keel was arrested and charged with First-Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child resulting in the death of a child, later pleading guilty and receiving a 10-year prison sentence.
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?
All three documents describe this death as resulting from a firearm incident. Document 1 (krcgtv.com) states the boy was "dead in a bedroom from what appeared to be a gunshot to the head" with "the magazine of a handgun next to him." Document 2 (komu.com) confirms "Eldon first responders found a boy dead with a gunshot to the head." Document 3 (ky3.com) states "Her son, Gabriel, died after investigators say he shot himself with Keel's gun left on a table."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Multiple documents describe the father leaving a loaded handgun accessible to the child while he was asleep. Document 1 (krcgtv.com) states Keel "left a loaded handgun on a table in the living room accessible to the boy" and that "Keel was the only guardian in the home at the time of the incident." Document 2 (komu.com) states Keel admitted to leaving a "fully loaded and very accessible" handgun on a table and "was so tired that he didn't hear the gunshot." Document 3 (ky3.com) confirms Keel "admitted to leaving the loaded handgun on a table in the living room and went to bed around 6 a.m." and "was asleep and didn't hear a gunshot." The child, unsupervised, found the gun and fatally shot himself.
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?
Document 3 (ky3.com) explicitly identifies Albert Keel as the child's biological father: "Deputies arrested the father, Albert Keel" and "Gabriel was at home with his dad, Albert Keel." The mother also refers to Keel as "my husband." Keel was the sole guardian at the time of the incident and left the loaded handgun accessible, resulting in the child's 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)
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?
Document 1 (krcgtv.com) states: "they arrested Albert Keel, 27, and took him to the police department for questioning" and "Prosecutors charged Keel with First-Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child- Death of a Child." Document 2 (komu.com) confirms he was sentenced: "Albert Keel, 28, was sentenced to 10 years in the Department of Corrections." Document 3 (ky3.com) also confirms: "Deputies arrested the father, Albert Keel. He faces endangering the welfare of a child charges."
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 documents. Document 1 (krcgtv.com) states that "Keel told detectives he called someone else before he called 911 to report the boy had been shot," indicating a delayed emergency response. Document 3 (ky3.com) reports that the mother, Samantha Appleberry, stated she "didn't even know there was a gun in the house" and had told Keel to ensure things were out of the way for the kids. The mother issued a public plea for gun safety: "If you're not going to have it on, put it where it needs to go: the safe closet. Put it up where it needs to go because anything can happen like this." Document 2 (komu.com) notes that Keel pleaded guilty in January, waiving his right to a jury trial, and was sentenced to 10 years in the Department of Corrections.
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