‘Gone so soon’: St. Pete community reels with 11-year-old’s accidental shooting death

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — The St. Petersburg community is reeling with the loss of a young boy and police say he was shot by accident.

11-year-old Amir Williams was at home with his brother and sister Friday afternoon, but at one point his brother obtained a stolen gun that went off.

Police responded at about 12:15 p.m. to the home in the 1400 block of 43rd Street South.

Officers said the child’s two siblings, his sister, 13, and brother, 14, were present in the house when the 14-year-old, playing with the gun, accidentally shot the boy.

He had recently found the gun in a nearby alley and had it in the home, unbeknownst to the family. Officials said the firearm was reported stolen on April 24.

They found Williams with a gunshot wound. He later died from his injuries while inside the home.

One of the kids notified the mother, who got into a car crash on the interstate while on her way home. Her vehicle sustained significant damage, so she called a ride-share, who transported her to the home, police said.

“Amir was a good kid,” the boy’s uncle, Darryl Walls said. “He had so much potential. I hate to see so much potential be gone so soon.”

Access to firearms is an issue the St. Petersburg police department has been battling in recent years.

“It continues to be a problem,” Asst. Chief Michael Kovacsev said.

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