Teen and Grandmother Charged After 8-Year-Old Boy Fatally Shot in Georgia

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A 13-year-old boy and his grandmother have been charged after an 8-year-old boy was fatally shot in the face inside a home in Bainbridge, Georgia. Authorities say the teen, believed to be the victim’s cousin, allegedly accessed a 9mm handgun and pulled the trigger, leaving the young boy dead at the scene.

The 13-year-old has since been arrested and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. Due to his age, his identity has not been released to the public. His grandmother, 49-year-old Knisha Ann Perkins, was also arrested and faces three counts of cruelty to children in the second degree, along with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.The incident took place on July 11 when Decatur County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) received reports of a shooting. Deputies found 8-year-old Kylen Powell lying on the living room floor with a fatal gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and investigators were unable to locate the firearm nearby. According to local reports from WALB-TV, the boy had been staying at his grandmother’s house with his 13-year-old cousin at the time of the incident.

Firearm Safety Warning

The shocking case has reignited the conversation about responsible gun ownership and the risks unsecured firearms pose to children. Deputy Decatur County Coroner DeWitt Phillip urged the public to take greater care when storing firearms at home. “Kids get a hold of them, and they don’t think,” Phillip told WALB-TV. “They watch TV, and everyone gets up. We need people to secure firearms so we don’t have these children dead. Don’t leave them out where kids can play with them, because they just don’t understand.”

Phillip, who has dealt with several similar tragedies over the years, spoke with emotion about the toll these cases take. “I have worked so many of these, and it’s not easy and it never gets easier for us,” he added. “The families have to live with it, but the coroners do too.”

Investigators have not yet confirmed how the teenager came into possession of the handgun or who the registered owner is. According to the initial incident report, the weapon had already been removed from the scene by the time deputies arrived.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) assists the DCSO and the Decatur County Coroner’s Office in the ongoing investigation. As of now, the agencies have made no further comments. Whether the teen will be charged as a juvenile or an adult remains unclear.

As the community mourns the loss of a young life, law enforcement continues to highlight the importance of securing firearms, particularly in homes with children, to prevent such devastating outcomes.