Plymouth Police Investigate 7-Year-Old Boy’s Death
Plymouth police are calling the death of a 7-year-old boy a tragic accident. Keyaris Samuels accidentally shot himself with a loaded handgun found inside his home. The incident happened Wednesday afternoon at a home in the 6000 block of Shenandoah Lane.
Teddy bears and candles are now placed at the first grader’s home.
“You always see him smiling, you never see him upset and he’s just happy,” said one of the neighbors who stopped by to a growing memorial in Keyaris’ honor. “He was just the best kid ever.”
Neighbor Farrah Ross says Keyaris was like a member of the family.
“They are traumatized because when you lose somebody that is close to you, it’s a hurting feeling and my kids was close to him” Ross said.
Plymouth Police Investigation
Keyaris and three other children, including Keyaris’ brother, were at the home when the shooting occurred. The children range in age from 7-11.
“They heard the shot, two of the three went back inside. They saw what they saw, then ran to the neighbor,” explained Plymouth Police Chief Mike Goldstein.
The 7-year-old’s mom was not at home at the time of the incident, but arrived shortly after police were called. Authorities say Keyaris was inside the home alone when he got hold of a loaded handgun that was inside a box containing a new hoverboard.
“I’ll qualify it as a toy, so maybe he’s assuming well, then this is a toy, too and it cost him his life,” said Goldstein.
The box was in a bedroom. {olice are running tests and interviewing people to determine who owns the weapon.
“The victim’s mother was not aware there was a gun in her home and is adamant, that again, she nor anyone she knows brought that gun to the home,” said Goldstein. “This entire incident should have never occurred, no one should have died, especially such an innocent child.”
Wayzata School Reaction
Neighbors say Keyaris attended Meadow Ridge Elementary. The Wayzata School District is offering grief counseling for students and staff.
Superintendent Chace B. Anderson released a statement saying: “This is certainly a challenging time for all of us at Wayzata Public Schools and throughout the broader community. With challenging times like this, it is important for us to pull together in support of one another.”
