Paris Harvey, a 12-year-old girl, and her 14-year-old cousin, Kuaron Harvey, met a tragic end during a family gathering intended to celebrate their birthdays in March. The incident unfolded in a downtown St. Louis apartment where the family had rented space for the occasion. While alone in the bathroom, the cousins were engaged in making an Instagram Live video when Paris accidentally discharged a firearm, fatally wounding Kuaron. In a horrifying turn of events, the gun discharged again, this time fatally wounding Paris herself.
The family, grappling with the sudden loss, has described the event as a “freak accident.” Paris’ mother, Shinise Harvey, emphasized that there was no intent behind the actions; it was a tragic mishap during what was supposed to be a joyful celebration. She has not viewed the video herself but relies on descriptions from other family members who witnessed the recording.
According to Susan Dyson, their grandmother, the children were not in conflict; they were simply playing with a gun, an action that led to the accidental discharge. There’s speculation within the family that the gun might have belonged to Kuaron, though this has not been confirmed.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours, was initially labeled by the St. Louis police as a murder-suicide, a classification that the family vehemently disputes. They maintain that both children were playing, trying to emulate behaviors they might have seen online or in media, without understanding the lethal consequences of handling a firearm.
This tragic event has reignited discussions on gun safety, especially concerning the accessibility of firearms to minors. The family’s narrative paints a picture of two young lives cut short by an accident, highlighting the dangers of unsupervised access to guns among children. The community and gun safety advocates have taken note, using this as a somber reminder of the need for stricter gun control measures and education on firearm safety.
Paris was described as a vibrant seventh-grader with a love for fashion and singing, while Kuaron was close to her, often referred to as her brother despite being cousins. Their untimely deaths have left a void in their family, who now seeks to prevent such tragedies from happening to others by advocating for better gun safety practices.
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