Three-year-old Christian Lesley was fatally shot on the morning of January 15 at an apartment complex on the southwest side of Oklahoma County. The toddler and his two siblings were in the care of their mother's girlfriend while the mother was incarcerated. The girlfriend woke that morning to change diapers, and Christian wandered to the other side of the room where 22-year-old Kirk Chance was sleeping. Chance had placed a loaded gun on the floor under the bed. The child accessed the gun and shot himself in the face. Chance fled the apartment with the gun after the shooting but later turned himself in after being urged by his mother and brother. After a year-long investigation, the Oklahoma County District Attorney charged Chance with one count of second-degree 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 news article explicitly describes a firearm incident: "the little boy wandered to the other side of the room where 22-year-old Kirk Chance was sleeping. Chance and the woman heard a gunshot and saw the toddler shoot himself in the face." The article also states "Chance later told investigators he put the loaded gun on the floor, under the bed where he was sleeping."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The news article describes a situation where a 3-year-old and his siblings were left in the care of their mother's partner. The woman "woke up the morning of Jan. 15 to change diapers, and the little boy wandered to the other side of the room where 22-year-old Kirk Chance was sleeping." The child accessed a loaded gun that Chance had placed "on the floor, under the bed where he was sleeping." The child was inadequately supervised and had access to a loaded firearm, directly resulting in his death. The gun owner, Kirk Chance, was charged with second-degree manslaughter for leaving the loaded weapon accessible.
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)?
The news article states "The toddler and his two siblings were left in the care of their mother's partner." The mother's partner was a woman — the grandmother said: "her girlfriend is supposed to be watching her baby." This female partner/girlfriend of the child's mother was the responsible caregiver when the shooting occurred. She was present and had supervisory responsibility when the child wandered and accessed the loaded firearm.
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Kirk Chance, 22, was present in the apartment and was charged with second-degree manslaughter for leaving a loaded gun accessible to the child. The article states he was sleeping in the room and had placed "the loaded gun on the floor, under the bed where he was sleeping." His exact relationship to the household is not clearly stated — the mother's partner is identified as a woman ("her girlfriend is supposed to be watching her baby"), and Chance's specific relationship to the female partner or the family is not clarified. However, he was a male staying in the apartment and his negligent actions directly led to the child's death.
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 news article states: "Kirk Chance, 22, was not arrested in January after the death of Christian Lesley, 3, but he now faces one second-degree manslaughter charge." Chance was charged with second-degree manslaughter after a year-long investigation by the Oklahoma County District Attorney.
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?
The news article references the child's mother's mental health following the death: the grandmother stated, "When I found out she did know...They said she was on suicidal watch." This directly references the parent's mental health status, specifically being placed on suicide watch in jail after learning of her child's death.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The news article states "The child's mother was in jail at the time." This implies the biological mother had been arrested or charged for a separate offense predating the child's death. The grandmother confirms: "Now she gotta come home and bury her baby." While the specific charges or offense are not named, the mother's incarceration at the time of the fatal incident represents prior criminal involvement separate from this child's death.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the news article: (1) A year-long investigation was required before the Oklahoma County District Attorney filed charges, during which time Chance was not in jail. (2) After the accidental shooting, "Chance told police he freaked out after the accidental shooting, took the gun, and left the apartment," meaning the gun owner fled the scene with the weapon. (3) "Chance's mother and brother urged him to turn himself in and talk to police," and he eventually did so voluntarily. (4) The child's mother was in jail at the time of the shooting, and her same-sex partner (girlfriend) was the caregiver for the three children. (5) "He is currently not in jail" despite the manslaughter charge. These details — especially the delayed prosecution, the gun owner fleeing with the weapon, and the absence of pre-trial detention — may be relevant to a researcher analyzing the legal and systemic response to child firearm deaths.
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