A heartbreaking incident in Georgia has left a family grieving after a teenager described as being “like a nephew” to Grammy-winning rapper 21 Savage reportedly shot his younger sister by accident and then died by suicide, according to Atlanta-area station 11Alive.
Authorities and family members said 14-year-old Seven Shirley allegedly fired the shot that struck his 12-year-old sister, Lyric, in the neck Wednesday afternoon inside a home in Stockbridge, located southeast of Atlanta. Relatives told the outlet the shooting appeared to be a tragic accident.
Seven’s grandmother, Sharon Smith, broke down as she described the devastating moments after the shooting, telling 11Alive, “Just that fast that boy had made the decision to kill himself.”
Smith said she believes the teen may have panicked in the aftermath, fearing arrest, public shame and the weight of what had happened. “He probably sat up there and thought, ‘I’m finna go to jail, they’re going to ridicule me,’” she said, adding that she believes he simply “couldn’t take it.”
The grieving grandmother said she had raised Seven since he was just 11 months old, remembering him as an affectionate and devoted grandson who looked out for her daily.
“There wasn’t nothing in this world he wouldn’t do for me,” Smith told the station.
Relatives said they still do not know why the Georgia teen had the firearm or what led him to handle it before the fatal shooting.
“We don’t know. We don’t know,” Smith said, calling for accountability over how the gun ended up in Seven’s possession. “Something needs to be done about that person who sold that gun because if he would have never bought that gun, this would have never happened.”
Lyric reportedly remains hospitalized after undergoing three surgeries to her neck and vocal cords.
21 Savage, who the outlet said is described as an uncle to the teen, posted an image to his Instagram Stories with the caption “Remember when you was a baby,” with broken heart emojis.
The image shows a young boy wearing a 21 chain.
“As we prepare for the homegoing celebration for my beloved nephew, Seven, I respectfully ask everyone to please honor our family’s privacy during this incredibly difficult time,” the family said in a statement sent to 11Alive.
“Please continue to keep my niece, Lyric, in your prayers. She is fighting for her life, and we are believing God for her healing, strength, and complete recovery,” the statement continued.
The devastating loss comes just weeks after the family was rocked by another heartbreaking tragedy.
Seven’s cousin, 13-year-old DeMarcus Shirley, was killed in a drive-by shooting while spending the night with friends in DeKalb County, Smith told the outlet.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
