Three-year-old Jackson Truitt was fatally shot on the morning of Friday, April 14, 2023, in the Steele Creek area of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (off the 2500 block of O'Hara Drive in the Twelve Oaks neighborhood). He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries but later died. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as a gun and the manner of death as accident. The boy's father, Richard Allen Truitt, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to secure a firearm from a minor, indicating the child accessed an unsecured firearm.
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 WBTV news article reports "A 3-year-old boy was killed in a Steele Creek shooting," and the medical examiner record lists Cause of Death as "Gun." The father was charged with "failure to secure a firearm from a minor."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The WBTV article indicates the father was charged with "failure to secure a firearm from a minor," implying the child gained access to an unsecured firearm, which suggests inadequate supervision/safeguarding leading to the accidental shooting.
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?
The WBTV article states the father "Richard Allen Truitt was taken to CMPD's headquarters" and was "arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to secure a firearm from a minor," indicating the biological father's involvement in the accidental shooting 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?
The WBTV article states the boy's father "Richard Allen Truitt was taken to CMPD's headquarters" and "was then arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to secure a firearm from a minor."
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 article notes that the father was charged with "failure to secure a firearm from a minor," a specific charge indicating the firearm was not properly stored or secured to prevent access by the child. This is directly relevant to gun safety legislation and safe storage laws. Additionally, the investigation was "initially being ruled as a death investigation, not a homicide," suggesting the circumstances were initially unclear and evolved over the course of the investigation.
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