⚠️ Baby Kiyomi Pawnell-Parker Shot in Head by 10-Year-Old Who Found Loaded Gun… Father Charged with Endangerment After Storing Weapon Under Mattress! Heartbreaking Details Emerge 😭
Tragic St. Louis Shooting Leaves 7-Month-Old Baby Dead: 10-Year-Old Boy Faces First-Degree Murder Charge After Finding Loaded Gun Under Mattress as Baby’s Father Also Arrested
A horrifying tragedy unfolded in a St. Louis home when a 10-year-old boy allegedly found a loaded gun under a mattress and fatally shot a 7-month-old baby girl in the head. The infant, identified as Kiyomi Pawnell-Parker, was rushed to the hospital by police but could not be saved. The young boy now faces first-degree murder charges in juvenile court, while the baby’s 19-year-old father, Ca’Marion Pawnell, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts including second-degree murder and child endangerment.
The shooting occurred on Saturday afternoon in the 8400 block of North Broadway in the Baden neighborhood. Officers responded to reports of a shooting and found the baby suffering from a gunshot wound. With no time to wait for an ambulance, police placed Kiyomi in their cruiser and rushed her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A 7-year-old child was also present in the home at the time of the incident.
According to court documents, the 10-year-old boy knew the gun was stored under the mattress in a bedroom and had reportedly taken it out to play with before. He allegedly admitted to shooting Kiyomi in the head. The boy’s age makes this one of the youngest murder charges in Missouri history, highlighting the devastating consequences of unsecured firearms in homes with children.
Kiyomi’s father, Ca’Marion Pawnell, told police he owned the gun and had stored it under the mattress. He faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree child endangerment resulting in death, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Pawnell, a graduate of East St. Louis High School who was preparing to attend college, is being held without bond. His family has expressed devastation over the loss.
Kiyomi’s mother, Janyla Parker, has launched a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and related costs. In a heartbreaking post, the 19-year-old mother wrote: “At just 19 years old, I never imagined I would be planning my seven-month-old daughter’s funeral instead of watching her grow. My precious baby, Kiyomi Pawnell-Parker, was taken from me far too soon due to a senseless act of gun violence. No parent should ever have to experience this kind of heartbreak.”
This case has sparked renewed discussions about gun safety, child access to firearms, and the responsibilities of adults in homes where children live. Pawnell’s decision to store the gun under a mattress in an accessible location has been heavily criticized as it allegedly enabled the tragic shooting. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers unsecured weapons pose to the most vulnerable members of society.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department continues to investigate, with homicide detectives and child abuse investigators involved. The relationship between Pawnell and the other children in the home has not been publicly detailed. The 10-year-old remains in custody, and the case will proceed through juvenile court given his age.
Community reactions have been one of shock and sadness. Kiyomi’s family is mourning the loss of a beautiful baby girl taken far too soon. GoFundMe supporters have poured in donations and messages of condolence, offering some small comfort to the grieving mother.
Gun violence involving children remains a persistent issue in many American cities, with St. Louis often facing high rates of such tragedies. This case stands out due to the extremely young ages of both the alleged shooter and the victim. Experts emphasize the critical need for safe gun storage practices — keeping firearms unloaded, locked, and out of reach of children.
As the legal proceedings move forward, the focus remains on justice for little Kiyomi and support for her devastated family. The 10-year-old boy’s future will also be shaped by this incident, with juvenile justice systems aiming for rehabilitation alongside accountability.
The death of Kiyomi Pawnell-Parker is a profound loss that has touched many hearts. Her short life, full of potential, was cut short in a preventable tragedy. Her mother’s words capture the pain felt by families across the country who have lost loved ones to gun violence.
This heartbreaking story serves as a call to action for better gun safety awareness and stricter storage laws to protect children from such senseless deaths. In the meantime, the city of St. Louis mourns another young life lost too soon.