Teen Boy, 13, and Grandmother Charged After 8-Year-Old Cousin Was Shot and Killed with Firearm By Kimberlee Speakman

A teenager and his grandmother have been charged in connection with the death of an 8-year-old boy, who was shot and killed in Georgia.

A 13-year-old boy and a woman, identified as 49-year-old Knisha Ann Perkins, were arrested on July 15, after the 8-year-old, identified as Kylen Powell, was found dead, according to WALB-TV.

The teen, who was not identified due to his age, allegedly shot and killed Kylen at around 11 p.m. local time on July 11 at their grandmother Perkins’ home in Bainbridge, Ga., per the outlet. WALB-TV reported that the two boys were cousins. 

The boys had been staying at their grandmother’s house when the 13-year-old allegedly shot the 8-year-old in the face with a 9mm handgun, WALB-TV reported. It’s unclear how the teenager got hold of the firearm.

A deputy with the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene and found the 8-year-old lying on the living room floor and “determined that he was beyond life-saving measures,” WALB-TV reported, citing an initial incident report from the sheriff’s office. 

The deputy also said in the report that officers were “unable to locate the firearm as it was not near the scene of the deceased.”

Following the incident, deputy Decatur County Coroner DeWitt Phillip warned families to “secure” their “firearms,” especially when kids are in the house, in an interview with WALB-TV.

“Kids get a hold of them, and they don’t think,” Phillip said. “They watch TV and everyone gets up. We need people to secure ‘em so we don’t have these children dead. Don’t leave them out where kids can play with them, because they just don’t understand.”

“I have worked so many of these, and it’s not easy and it never gets easier for us,” Phillip added. “The families have to live with it, but the coroners do too.”

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The teenager was charged with felony murder and aggravated assault, and Perkins was charged with three counts of cruelty to children in the second degree and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the outlet. 

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Decatur County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and Decatur County Coroner did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the incident.