A Georgia teenager who was “like a nephew” to Grammy-winning rapper 21 Savage reportedly shot his little sister by accident before taking his own life, according to local news station 11Alive.
Seven Shirley, 14, died by suicide after allegedly shooting his 12-year-old sister, Lyric, in the neck Wednesday afternoon in a heartbreaking accident at a home in Stockbridge, southeast of Atlanta, grieving relatives told the outlet.
“Just that fast that boy had made the decision to kill himself,” Seven’s grandmother, Sharon Smith, told the news outlet through tears.
“He probably sat up there and thought, ‘I’m finna go to jail, they’re going to ridicule me, everybody is going to be doing this and that and this … and he couldn’t take it.’”
Smith, who said she raised Seven from when he was 11 months old, described him as a loving grandson who doted on her every day.
“There wasn’t nothing in this world he wouldn’t do for me,” she said.
The family has no idea what the teen was doing with the gun, Smith told the outlet.
“We don’t know. We don’t know,” she said. “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.”
Lyric reportedly remains hospitalized after undergoing three surgeries to her neck and vocal cords.
21 Savage, who the outlet said is described as an uncle to the teen, posted an image to his Instagram Stories with the caption “Remember when you was a baby,” with broken heart emojis.
The image shows a young boy wearing a 21 chain.
“As we prepare for the homegoing celebration for my beloved nephew, Seven, I respectfully ask everyone to please honor our family’s privacy during this incredibly difficult time,” the family said in a statement sent to 11Alive.
“Please continue to keep my niece, Lyric, in your prayers. She is fighting for her life, and we are believing God for her healing, strength, and complete recovery,” the statement continued.
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The devastating loss comes just weeks after the family was rocked by another heartbreaking tragedy.
Seven’s cousin, 13-year-old DeMarcus Shirley, was killed in a drive-by shooting while spending the night with friends in DeKalb County, Smith told the outlet.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
