On Saturday, September 24, 2022, at approximately 1:18 p.m., a 12-year-old boy obtained a firearm and unintentionally shot and killed himself in the 6900 block of North 43rd Street in the Town and Country Manor neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A 33-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the death, and criminal charges were expected to be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. The child's death was classified as a homicide and was reported to be the 19th homicide of a minor in Milwaukee in 2022.
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 states: "At 1:18 p.m., a 12-year-old boy obtained a firearm and unintentionally shot and killed himself in the 6900 block of North 43rd Street, in the Town and Country Manor neighborhood."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The news article states that "a 12-year-old boy obtained a firearm and unintentionally shot and killed himself" and that "Charges for the arrested 33-year-old woman are expected to be referred in the coming days." The arrest of a responsible adult following a child's access to and self-inflicted accidental discharge of a firearm implies inappropriate supervision or failure to secure the firearm.
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)?
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 news article states: "Charges for the arrested 33-year-old woman are expected to be referred in the coming days," in direct reference to the 12-year-old boy's death. This confirms an adult was arrested in connection with the child's death.
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 provides several notable systemic details relevant to this child's death. It states: "the death of the 12-year-old boy is believed to be the 19th homicide of a minor so far this year and the third since Sept. 11. Police reported 21 homicide victims under the age of 17 for all of 2021 and 27 in 2020." The article also cites a Harvard School of Public Health study finding that "for every 1-percentage point increase in household gun ownership, youth homicides by firearm increased by 2.8% to 3.8%." It also notes that "police have seen gun recoveries climb 25% from 2019 to 2021" and that recoveries were up an additional 14% as of June 2022. The relationship between the arrested 33-year-old woman and the child is not disclosed; charges were expected to be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.
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