A tragic incident in Ohio has led to charges against a 14-year-old boy and his father following the shooting death of the man’s 11-year-old niece earlier this month.
Authorities arrived at the scene around 6:30 p.m. on December 5, where they discovered Amya Frazier with a gunshot wound. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she succumbed to her injuries five days later, as reported by the Columbus Division of Police.
The 14-year-old cousin of Amya was charged with reckless homicide in juvenile court on December 11. Subsequently, Matthew Seymour, 33, the boy’s father, faced charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment on Friday.
Matthew Seymour explained to the Columbus Dispatch that on the night before the shooting, his son had friends over. Around 3 a.m., he retrieved a handgun from his safe after his dogs reacted to something outside. Instead of securing the weapon afterward, he left it atop a mini-fridge.
According to Seymour, he was not present at the time of the shooting, although another adult was in the house. This adult was showering when the teenager accessed the firearm and began to handle it, Seymour recounted in a December 11 interview.
Seymour noted that he has not communicated with his niece’s mother since the incident occurred.
“The only thing that matters to me is that (Amya’s mother) knows that it was truly an accident,” Seymour said. “There’s nothing that me nor my son can do to make this go away. Her baby’s life got taken away from her.”
“I’m ready for any consequences that come my way,” he said. “I just don’t want my son to lose his life over this.”
Seymour was previously charged with a misdemeanor weapons count last year for firing into the ground when teenagers fired pellets at his home. He later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, the Dispatch said.
Frazier was a fifth grade student at Westgate Elementary School with a four sisters — a 14-year-old, an 8-year-old, and 7-year-old twins. Her grandmother, Amy Zahrani, told the newspaper that Frazier played soccer and wanted to be a doctor and a professional soccer player.
“Everyone who met Amya loved Amya,” Zahrani said.
Seymour’s bond has not yet been set, jail records show.
