A tragic incident in Ohio has resulted in the death of a young girl, with her uncle now facing serious legal consequences. The girl, identified as Amya Frazier, was accidentally shot by her teenage cousin, and the aftermath has led to felony charges against her uncle.

Matthew Seymour, aged 33, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment related to the tragic shooting of 11-year-old Amya Frazier. Reports from the Columbus Dispatch indicate that Amya was allegedly shot by her 14-year-old cousin on December 5th, and she succumbed to her injuries on December 8th. The teenager has since been charged with reckless homicide.

Before Seymour’s arrest, he shared insights with a local news outlet about the events leading up to the devastating incident.

Seymour explained to the Columbus Dispatch that he was not present at home on the evening of December 5th. However, another adult was at the residence with his son and Amya. While this adult was in the shower, Seymour’s son reportedly found and began playing with a firearm.

The Columbus Division of Police reported that officers arrived at a Columbus home at 6:26 p.m. on December 5th, where they discovered Amya suffering from a critical gunshot wound. After she tragically passed away from her injuries, authorities identified her 14-year-old cousin, Seymour’s son, as the suspected shooter. The teenager is currently being held in juvenile detention.

During his interview with the Columbus Dispatch, Seymour recounted that he had removed the gun from its lockbox earlier that morning due to his dogs reacting to something outside. Instead of securing the firearm back in the lockbox, he left it on a mini fridge, which is where his son later accessed it. While Seymour asserted that the shooting was an “accident,” he acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, “There’s nothing that me nor my son can do to make this go away.”

Seymour added, “I’m ready for any consequences that come my way. I just don’t want my son to lose his life over this.”

Seymour was charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangerment of a child. He is in custody at the James A. Karnes Correction Center, where he is being held without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 26.