KANNAPOLIS, NC — A heartbreaking incident in Kannapolis has led to the tragic death of a seven-year-old girl, Mikayla, after an unsecured firearm was involved in an accidental shooting. The child’s death has sparked a call for responsible gun storage and greater awareness of firearm safety.
At approximately 7:30 a.m. on the morning of the incident, officers responded to a call from a residence in the 400 block of Cabarrus Arms Drive. Upon arrival, they discovered that the young girl had been fatally shot by her sibling. Despite the swift response of emergency services, Mikayla was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators quickly pieced together the events leading up to the tragedy. Police determined that the firearm involved in the shooting had been left unsecured by 33-year-old Timothy Wayne Burris, the boyfriend of the child’s mother. According to the investigation, the gun was accessible to the children in the home, which ultimately led to the fatal incident.
Burris was arrested after authorities consulted with the Cabarrus County District Attorney’s Office. He faces multiple charges, including felony child abuse inflicting serious injury, storing a firearm in a manner accessible to a minor, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Burris was taken into custody and booked at the Cabarrus County Magistrate’s Office, where he was issued a $25,000 bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for January 24.
As the investigation continues, Kannapolis police are urging gun owners to take extra precautions to ensure their firearms are stored securely. Authorities have stressed the importance of keeping weapons out of the reach of children to prevent such devastating accidents.
This incident has left the local community in mourning, as they come to terms with the loss of a young life that could have been avoided with more responsible firearm storage. The case remains under investigation as authorities work to gather further details surrounding the circumstances of Mikayla’s tragic death.