Texas – A Texas parents were charged with making a flrearm accessible to a chiId after their child allegedly used their unsecured flrearm to fatally shoot his cIassmate, 14-year-old Anaia. The incident occurred on March 21, 2025, following an argument between the two children on their school bus. After returning home, the shooter, 13, retrieved a revoIver from an unzipped travel bag in his parents’, Keneth and Casie, bedroom, which he had discovered weeks earlier while searching for hair trimmers. He then went to the apartment complex where the victim lived and shot her near a playground.
When the victim saw the shooter with the firearm, she attempted to flee, but was shot four times. She later died in the hospital. Court documents indicate that the boy had used a firearm his parents had failed to properly secure.
The boy, whose identity has not been revealed due to his status as a juvenile, returned home after the shooting and placed the gun back where he found it. He has been charged with murder and will be tried as a juvenile.
Authorities in Texas found that the firearm was easily accessible to the boy because it was kept in a bag that was zipped shut, but lacked any locking mechanism to prevent access.
Texas authorities attempted to speak with the parents a day after the shooting, but they refused to provide a statement, citing legal counsel. A CPS caseworker also stated that the parents declined to cooperate with their investigation, likely to avoid self-incrimination.
While the parents have been charged with making a firearm accessible to a child, a misdemeanor, they have not yet been arrested. This has caused frustration for the victim’s family, who feel the charges against the boy’s parents are insufficient.
The victim’s father, Josef, spoke about the emotional toll of the tragedy. “It’s been really hard. Every day when the buses go by, I find myself looking for my child. It’s just been overwhelming,” he said.
The shooter was charged with murder and is being held at the juvenile detention center. His parents have not been taken into custody but face up to a year in jail if convicted.
The victim’s family expressed grief and called for accountability, emphasizing the importance of securing firearms to prevent such tragedies.
This case highlights the legal and moral responsibilities of gun owners to store firearms securely, especially in homes with children.
Featured Image – Victim pictured with her father
