An Ohio man, Matthew Seymour, was indicted on involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment charges after his 14-year-old son fired an unsecured handgun that fatally wounded 11-year-old Amya Frazier on Dec. 5. Seymour says he removed the gun from a lockbox that day and placed it on a mini refrigerator instead of returning it to secure storage. The teen faces a juvenile delinquency charge of reckless homicide; prosecutors said additional charges were possible as the probe continued. Family members described Amya as a fifth-grader who loved soccer and dreamed of becoming a doctor.
Ohio Man Indicted After Unsecured Handgun Is Fired by Teen, Killing 11-Year-Old Niece
GoFundMe; Franklin County Sheriff's Office
An Ohio man, Matthew Seymour, 33, was indicted on charges including involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment after investigators say an unsecured handgun he acknowledged leaving accessible was involved in the fatal shooting of his 11-year-old niece, Amya Frazier.
Columbus police say Amya was shot inside a home on the 200 block of South Wheatland Avenue on Dec. 5 and died five days later. Authorities arrested Seymour on Dec. 19, and prosecutors later announced the indictment.
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How the Shooting Occurred
Local outlets and police reports indicate the firearm was fired by Seymour’s 14-year-old son. The teen has been charged in Franklin County Juvenile Court with a delinquency count of reckless homicide; his name has not been released because he faces juvenile, not adult, proceedings.
Seymour has told reporters he removed the handgun from a lockbox earlier that day after his dogs reacted to something outside the home. Rather than returning the firearm to secure storage, he said he placed it on top of a mini refrigerator inside the residence. He said he was not present when the gun was accessed and that another adult in the home was reportedly in the shower at the time.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
“My son’s not a bad kid. He made a very dumb mistake,” Seymour said in court, asking for leniency and noting his son had no prior trouble.
Legal Status and Investigation
Police reported that Amya was shot in the head and was taken to the hospital, where she later died. Prosecutors initially filed a juvenile delinquency charge against the teen and warned further charges could follow as the investigation continued; Seymour’s indictment was announced about two weeks after the shooting.
The case remains under active investigation by Columbus police and Franklin County prosecutors. The indictment against Seymour alleges criminal responsibility tied to leaving the firearm accessible to minors.
Family and Community
Family members told local media Amya was a fifth-grade student at Westgate Elementary School and one of five sisters. They said she loved butterflies, playing soccer and making videos, and dreamed of becoming a doctor and a professional soccer player. The community response included grief and renewed calls for safe firearm storage.
Context and Safety
This case underscores the risks of unsecured firearms in homes with children and adolescents. Law enforcement and child-safety advocates emphasize storing guns locked and unloaded, using a lockbox or safe, and keeping ammunition stored separately to prevent similar tragedies.
