Background: A section of the 3100 block of Qualynn Drive in Nashville, Tennessee (Google Maps). Inset left: Steven Lamont Ricks (GoFundMe). Inset right: Steven Lamont Phillips (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department).
A father in Tennessee, who had been resting after spending time with his 6-year-old son, was jolted awake by the terrifying sound of a gunshot. His nap turned into a nightmare when he discovered that his son had accidentally shot himself with a gun that had been in the father’s pocket, according to authorities.
Steven Lamont Phillips, 56, now faces charges of criminal homicide in connection with the tragic death of his son, Steven Lamont Ricks. Initially, Phillips faced charges of aggravated child neglect and unlawful possession of a firearm following the incident. However, after the young boy succumbed to his injuries, the charges were escalated to criminal homicide.
The heartbreaking event unfolded on a Saturday at a residence located on the 3100 block of Qualynn Drive in Nashville. Reports indicate that Phillips was responsible for his son’s care that day. According to an arrest affidavit cited by The Tennessean, Phillips’ sister, who is the boy’s legal guardian, was also present in the home but had decided to take a nap.
Phillips recounted that he was working outside when he stumbled upon a firearm in a ditch. He picked up the .380 caliber pistol and placed it in his pocket before returning indoors. After spending time playing with his son, Phillips was overcome by fatigue and fell asleep on the living room floor, still with the gun in his pocket, as reported by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
The tranquility of the afternoon was shattered when Phillips awoke to the alarming sound of a gunshot. The sight of a muzzle flash added to the horror of the moment, and he realized that his son, Steven, had accidentally shot himself in the head. In a state of panic, Phillips called out for his sister to contact emergency services, hoping for a miracle.
The sound, as well as a muzzle flash, spurred him from his sleep, and he saw that Steven had shot himself in the head, police said. Phillips then reportedly yelled for his sister to call 911.
The boy was rushed to a hospital, where he was put on life support and later pronounced dead. Phillips was arrested the next day, the newspaper reported, adding that authorities said he was not allowed to possess a weapon as he is a convicted felon.
When investigators asked the father why he didn’t report the gun after finding it, he allegedly “responded that his phone was dead,” and when asked why he didn’t use his sister’s phone, he said that when he got back inside, “he started playing with his son and did not think about it,” per the affidavit.
Steven’s fundraiser remembers him as “Junebug,” a boy with autism who “brought so much joy and life to our family.”
“He had so much life ahead of him, and now it’s been cut short in the most heartbreaking way,” the GoFundMe adds. “We are devastated by the loss of Junebug, who was shot and killed at just 6 years old. Our family is struggling to cope with this unimaginable pain.”
