In Kenwood neighborhood of Chicago, a devastating tragedy unfolded on Sunday, August 24, 2025, leaving a family and a community in profound grief. A 4-year-old boy, initially reported as 5, lost his life in an accidental shooting, and his 29-year-old sister, Danya Bell, now faces a felony charge of child endangerment resulting in death. The incident, marked by sorrow and preventable loss, has cast a somber shadow over the city, prompting renewed calls for firearm safety and community support.
The incident occurred just after 1:15 p.m. in an apartment in the 4400 block of South Greenwood Avenue. According to authorities, the young boy, who lived with a foster family, found a firearm inside a black zippered purse belonging to his sister, Danya Bell. Bell, a licensed concealed carry holder with a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card, had left the gun on a bed while she was showering. In a heartbreaking moment, the boy accessed the weapon and fatally shot himself in the head. Bell, alerted by a loud noise from one of the bedrooms, discovered her brother with a gunshot wound to the forehead and immediately called 911. First responders rushed the child to Comer Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead despite their efforts.
Chicago police arrested Bell less than three hours after the shooting, around 4 p.m. on Sunday, approximately four miles southwest of the Kenwood apartment. She now faces a single count of felony child endangerment causing death and is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released the boy’s name, respecting the family’s privacy during this time of immense sorrow.
Pastor Donovan Price, who has been in close contact with the family, described the shooting as a tragic accident. “The child got a hold of a gun and shot himself,” he said, emphasizing the unintentional nature of the incident. Bell, described as distraught, attempted to rush her brother to the hospital while emergency services were en route, a desperate act reflecting the chaos and pain of the moment.
This heartbreaking event was one of several violent incidents that marked a particularly tragic day in Chicago. On the same Sunday, a 17-year-old boy also died from a gunshot wound to the head in a separate incident, ruled as either suicide or homicide, adding to the city’s collective grief. As of August 27, 2025, Chicago has recorded 262 homicides this year, a figure that underscores the ongoing challenge of gun violence, even as the city has seen a downward trend in homicides since 2024.
The Kenwood shooting has reignited urgent conversations about firearm responsibility and child safety. Authorities are emphasizing the importance of secure gun storage, particularly in homes with young children. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the irreversible consequences that can result from a moment of oversight. Community leaders and police are urging families to remain vigilant, ensuring that firearms are kept out of reach and securely stored to prevent such accidents.
As Chicago mourns, the community is coming together to support the grieving family and honor the memory of the young boy whose life was cut short. Pastor Price and other local figures are calling for compassion and resources to help families navigate these painful losses. The city, no stranger to tragedy, is once again confronted with the need to address the complex issues of gun access, mental health, and community resilience.
Danya Bell’s court appearance on Wednesday will mark the next chapter in this heartbreaking story, but for now, the focus remains on a life lost too soon and a community determined to prevent future tragedies.
