The family of 14-year-old Seven Shirley, reported to be a nephew of rapper 21 Savage, says Seven died by suicide on July 22 after accidentally shooting his 12-year-old sister Lyric in the neck at a home in southeast Atlanta. Lyric survived and has had three surgeries to her neck and vocal cords. Family members say Seven allegedly bought the gun on the street for about $200, a purchase his grandmother says they did not know about. The loss follows another recent family tragedy: a 13-year-old cousin was killed in a drive-by shooting earlier this month. The family is urging action to stop illegal firearm sales to minors.
14-Year-Old Identified as 21 Savage’s Nephew Dies by Suicide After Accidental Shooting of Sister; Family Demands Action on Illegal Gun Sales
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The family of 14-year-old Seven Shirley — reported as a nephew of rapper 21 Savage — is calling for community action after a tragic weekend in southeast Atlanta left the boy dead and his 12-year-old sister critically injured.
According to relatives, the incident occurred on July 22 at a home on Lakeview Place. Seven accidentally shot his younger sister, Lyric, in the neck; Lyric survived and has undergone three surgeries to her neck and vocal cords. Family members say Seven later died by suicide.
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How the Family Says It Happened
Friends told reporters that Seven allegedly purchased the handgun on the street for about $200, reportedly after a close friend was shot the previous week. Seven's grandmother, Sharon Smith — who raised him since infancy — said the family was unaware he had a weapon.
'We don't know. We don't know,' Smith told 11Alive. 'Something needs to be done about that person who sold that gun because if he would have never bought that gun, this would have never happened.'
Smith described her belief about Seven's state of mind in his final moments, suggesting he feared the consequences he anticipated would follow the shooting.
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'Just that fast that boy had made the decision to kill himself,' she said. 'He probably sat up there and thought, I'm finna go to jail, they're going to ridicule me... and he couldn't take it.'
Broader Family Tragedy
The loss compounds another recent family tragedy: Seven's 13-year-old cousin, DeMarcus Shirley, was killed in a drive-by shooting earlier this month while staying with friends in DeKalb County.
Rapper 21 Savage acknowledged the family's grief on his Instagram Stories, posting a childhood photo with a short caption and broken-heart emojis.
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Family Plea and Calls for Action
The family issued a public statement urging stronger measures to remove illegal firearms from the streets and to prevent minors from accessing weapons. Their statement read in part:
'Please help us get these guns off our streets. Far too many young lives are being taken by senseless gun violence. We must work together to stop the illegal sale and access of firearms to minors and do everything we can to protect our children. Our family has lost one child, and another is fighting for her life. No family should ever have to experience this kind of pain.'
This incident has sparked renewed calls from community members and leaders for tougher enforcement against illegal gun sales and for increased resources to support at-risk youth and families affected by gun violence.
Note: This article reports on suicide and violent injury involving minors. For readers in crisis or needing support, please contact local emergency services or a suicide prevention hotline immediately.
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