Friday, 17 July 2026, 6:03
A family trip from Georgia to Florida ended in heartbreak when a 4-year-old boy found an unsecured handgun in a car and shot his 2-year-old cousin, Brayden Tennyson, in Kissimmee on July 13, 2026. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office reported the incident just before 4 p.m. at a rental home on Scrapbook Street. Deputies responded to the scene and emergency personnel provided lifesaving measures before the toddler was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
According to Sheriff Chris Blackmon, the family had just arrived at their Airbnb for a Disney vacation. While adults were unloading, the 2-year-old was left alone in the vehicle. The 4-year-old relative entered the car, found the unsecured, unholstered handgun, and pulled the trigger, striking Brayden. The toddler was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where he was later pronounced dead. Blackmon noted, “Once you pull that trigger, that projectile is going somewhere, and this one hit a 2-year-old and killed it.”
Sheriff Blackmon stressed the preventability of the tragedy, holding up a gun lock during a press conference. “It’s literally laying out by itself. So it’s easy to grab, and he pulled the trigger. It’s not a video game; you can’t hit reset and start over,” he said. He offered free gun locks at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, urging all gun owners to secure their firearms. “This is so simple to put on, and it would stop that problem from happening,” he added. “If it can save one life, it’s worth that investment to us.”
While this incident occurred in Florida, it echoes similar tragedies in California, where unsecured firearms in vehicles have led to accidental shootings. California law requires gun owners to store firearms safely, but enforcement remains a challenge. The case highlights the need for statewide education on gun safety.
Accidental shootings by children are a persistent issue in the U.S. According to advocacy groups, hundreds of children die or are injured each year from unsecured guns. The family had traveled from Georgia for a vacation, and the shooting happened just before Brayden’s third birthday, as noted in a GoFundMe campaign.
This tragedy underscores the critical importance of responsible gun storage. Sheriff Blackmon’s call for using gun locks is a simple but effective measure to prevent such incidents. As the investigation continues, the family mourns a life cut short. Deputies plan to speak to the 4-year-old involved in the shooting, and Blackmon says charges will likely be brought in the case, but further discussion is needed before any decision is made. The sheriff’s office met with the state attorney on Monday to discuss the case. The sheriff’s homicide unit is investigating, and the medical examiner’s office and the state Department of Children and Families were also notified.
