Tragic Shooting in Hiram: Toddler Accidentally Kills 19-Year-Old Kabrel Patterson After Finding Unsecured Gun

HIRAM, GEORGIA — A community is reeling and a family is devastated after a heartbreaking and entirely preventable tragedy unfolded in a Hiram home over the weekend. Nineteen-year-old Kabrel Patterson was fatally shot by a 3-year-old child who accidentally discharged an unsecured firearm early in the morning, authorities say.

The incident occurred at a residence in Hiram, located in Paulding County, Georgia, where Kabrel had been visiting family. According to the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Kabrel had brought a firearm with him to the home and left it unattended and unsecured before going to sleep for the night.

In the early morning hours, tragedy struck when a 3-year-old child, who was also in the house but unrelated to Kabrel, somehow accessed the firearm. At some point, the toddler discharged the weapon, and the bullet struck Kabrel while he was still asleep.

Emergency calls were made immediately, and deputies and first responders arrived quickly to the scene. Despite their efforts to save him, Kabrel Patterson was pronounced dead at the house.

Authorities confirmed that approximately 10 people, including several children, were inside the home at the time of the shooting. The home was reportedly being used as a gathering place for extended family and friends.

Sheriff’s officials said that although the shooting appears to be accidental, it was entirely preventable. The department emphasized that the incident serves as a tragic example of the consequences of failing to properly secure firearms in homes where children are present.

“This is a devastating and gut-wrenching case,” a spokesperson for the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office said. “A young life was lost because a firearm was not properly stored. It is a sobering reminder that guns must be kept out of reach of children—unloaded, locked up, and with safety devices in place at all times.”

Law enforcement officials have not yet announced whether charges will be filed, but said the case remains under active investigation. Kabrel’s family is said to be cooperating with investigators.

While the identity of the child has not been released for privacy reasons, counseling resources have been offered to those affected, including other children who were in the home at the time.

The death of Kabrel Patterson has stunned those who knew him. Friends and loved ones have begun sharing tributes and condolences on social media, describing him as kind-hearted, funny, and full of promise. Many are grappling with the painful reality of a life cut short by a moment of carelessness.

As the community mourns, gun safety advocates are once again urging responsible firearm ownership, especially in households with children. According to the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, unintentional shootings by children are tragically common in the United States, and many could be prevented through proper gun storage practices.

Authorities are expected to release more information as the investigation develops. Meanwhile, the community in Hiram is left to grieve a young man lost far too soon—and a child who will grow up forever affected by this moment.