A Memphis family is mourning the loss of a 33-year-old woman who was fatally shot in what authorities say was an accidental shooting involving her 4-year-old son.
According to police, Ashley Kimmons was found dead on March 6 in a shopping center area along Shelby Drive in Memphis, Tennessee. Investigators say one of her children gained access to a firearm and accidentally pulled the trigger.
Authorities have not yet publicly explained how the child obtained the gun.
Grandmother Describes Devastating Moment
Kimmons’ mother, Carolyn Hamer, said she feared the worst after receiving a call from her grandchildren’s school asking that the children be picked up.
Soon afterwards, she saw a post on social media showing a truck that looked like her daughter’s at the scene of a reported shooting.
“I prayed the whole time I seen the picture until the time I got to the scene, hoping it wasn’t her,” Hamer told WREG News Channel 3. “But it was her.”
Hamer said she realized the tragic news when she arrived and saw her son-in-law rushing toward her in distress.
“He ran to me and broke down,” she said. “That’s when I really knew it was her.”
Family Grappling With Sudden Loss
Hamer described her daughter as the cornerstone of the family.
“She’s just my first everything,” she said. “She the one that made me a mama. She the one that made me a grandmama.”
The tragedy unfolded on a day that was supposed to be celebratory for the family: one of Kimmons’ children had just turned 16.
“My grandbaby turned 16 Friday. My daughter was so proud,” Hamer said.
Community Support and Family Focus
Hamer said the family is now focused on supporting Kimmons’ children and husband as they navigate the loss.
“We’re going to stick together as a family and we’re going to raise my grandkids,” she said. “Whatever I need to do or whatever needs to be done for them, that’s what we’re going to do.”
Authorities have not announced any charges related to the incident. Investigations into accidental shootings involving children often focus on how firearms were stored and whether proper safety measures were in place.
Ongoing Concerns About Child Access to Firearms
Incidents involving young children and unsecured firearms have raised ongoing concerns among safety advocates, who stress the importance of secure gun storage in homes where children are present.
Police have not released additional details about the weapon involved or whether it belonged to someone in the family.
As the investigation continues, Kimmons’ family says they are leaning on community support and prayer while they grieve the sudden loss of a mother, daughter, and sister.
