21 Savage and his family are reportedly grieving after a tragic incident involving a young boy connected to the rapper’s family.
According to 11Alive, 14-year-old Seven Shirley died by suicide on Wednesday afternoon (July 22) after accidentally shooting his 12-year-old sister, Lyric.
Lyric was reportedly hospitalized after suffering a gunshot wound to the neck and has undergone three surgeries, leaving her family uncertain about when or if she will be able to return home. The teenager’s family described Seven as being like a nephew to the Atlanta rapper.
The incident reportedly took place in Stockbridge, Georgia. Seven’s grandmother, Sharon Smith, spoke with 11Alive about the tragedy and questioned how the teenager was able to access a firearm. She explained that the decision he made happened quickly and suggested he may have been overwhelmed by regret and fear of facing consequences, including death or prison for accidentally shooting his sister.
“He couldn’t take it,” Smith said.
Smith, who had raised Seven since he was 11 months old, described their close bond. “It wasn’t nothing in this world he wouldn’t do for me,” she shared.
When asked how the boy obtained the gun, Smith said, “We don’t know,” while calling for accountability from the person who sold the firearm. “Something needs to be done with the person who sold that gun. ‘Cause if he would’ve never bought that gun, this would’ve never happened.”
Smith revealed that the boy’s 13-year-old cousin was killed in a drive-by shooting while spending time with friends earlier this month. She also claimed that Seven’s friends told her he purchased the gun on the street for $200.
More updates may emerge as authorities continue looking into the heartbreaking situation. Condolences have been extended to everyone affected by the tragedy.
The incident also highlights the ongoing issue of young people gaining access to illegal firearms and comes just weeks after another devastating loss for the family. The family released a statement requesting privacy, prayers for Lyric’s recovery, and support in removing illegal guns from the streets to help protect children.
21 Savage reportedly shared a photo of Seven on his Instagram Story, adding broken heart emojis alongside the caption, “Remember when you was a baby.”
