2 weeks ago
The heartbroken family of a five-year-old boy who was changeable dormant by his young relative celebrated his life pinch a memorial which included nan victim's look printed connected cupcakes.
Braxton Marvin Scott Dykstra was astatine his maternal grandparents' home in Garfield Township, Michigan, connected April 1, watching TV pinch his sister erstwhile nan weapon went off.
The six-year-old comparative had recovered nan pump-action 12 gauge Remington shotgun their grandpa utilized to termination critters.
Braxton's sister sewage up to show an adult, but 'didn't make it retired nan door,' earlier it was was fired.
Five-year-old Braxton Dykstra (pictured) was changeable dormant by his relative successful Garfield Township, Michigan
Cupcakes adorned pinch mini cut-outs of Braxton's look were served astatine nan memorial wherever heartbroken family members gathered to observe nan young boy's life
Police were called to nan Newaygo County location successful Michigan astir 3:25pm connected April 1
Police were called to nan location adjacent West 68th Street and Bingham Avenue successful Newaygo County astir 3:25pm, according to a report.
A woman who was interviewed astatine nan segment told police: '[Name redacted] had a weapon and I told him to put it down. He accidentally pulled nan trigger connected [name redacted].'
She claimed nan kid had been making jokes astir shooting nan child, but accidentally discharged nan shotgun arsenic he was putting it down.
According to tribunal documents, a man astatine nan scene, whose sanction was not released, said nan weapon was not loaded and different guns successful nan location were locked away.
He told a trooper: 'I didn't moreover cognize wherever he sewage that slug from.'
Cops were advised nan weapon was past utilized 2 months agone to sprout a raccoon connected nan spot which required conscionable 1 shell. He believed it had been utilized and past nan weapon was returned to nan area pinch nan information on.
Domynic Dykstra, Braxton's devastated father, is now demanding justness for his young boy - and expects charges to beryllium filled, pinch nan incident turning 1 broadside of nan family against nan other.
He wants not only nan grandparents to beryllium held accountable, but nan six-year-old's mother.
'It's evidently a parent's worst nightmare', he told 13 On Your Side. 'I'm hoping that we tin really get justness for my son.'
Braxton was known to bask making different group laugh, including his sister who is only conscionable opening to understand he won't beryllium coming backmost to play
Braxton's dada is now sharing a connection astir weapon safety, encouraging anyone pinch a firearm to guarantee it is locked distant successful a safe to debar nan symptom his family is facing
He believes nan calamity could person been avoided if due weapon information protocol was being followed.
'As of correct now, it only sounds for illustration grandpa and grandma are gonna get [charged],' he told nan outlet.
He says his boy was 'a small jokester' who enjoyed moving astir making group laugh, including his 2 sisters and a babe brother.
'My daughter, it conscionable deed her past nighttime that my boy will ne'er beryllium back,' he said.
'She understood, he would ne'er beryllium back, but past night, I held her tight because she told maine she couldn't slumber without her "bubby".'
Domynic is now connected a ngo to stock Braxton's communicative and promote weapon owners to guarantee their weapons are locked distant to debar nan aforesaid heartache nan family are now enduring.
'If you person a safe, obviously, that's nan perfect thing, propulsion it successful a safe and telephone it a day,' he said.
'My main extremity correct now is to evidently extremity this from happening again.
'I person gone done truthful overmuch symptom that I don't want anybody other to spell through.'
Gun owners successful Michigan are required to support guns successful a locked container should minors beryllium expected connected a property, according to nan safe retention rule which came into effect connected February 13
Braxton leaves down 2 sisters and a babe brother, arsenic good arsenic doting parents Domynic and Paige
With Braxton now successful his heart, Domynic says he wants to get his coach licence to thatch younker astir weapon safety
Domynic is expecting nan Newaygo County Prosecutor's Office to property charges arsenic soon arsenic adjacent week.
Under nan safe retention rule implemented successful nan authorities connected February 13, weapon owners are required to shop weapons successful a locked container if location is immoderate anticipation a insignificant will beryllium connected nan property.
A ceremony of life saw a motorcade recreation done nan municipality and a luncheon held astatine Newyago High School, pinch overmuch of nan organization successful attendance.
The Newaygo County Prosecutor's Office says nan lawsuit is still nether review.
