The toddler who was accidentally shot and killed by his 4-year-old cousin was on a family vacation in Florida to celebrate his 3rd birthday, his heartbroken family revealed.
Brayden Tennyson, 2, was shot dead just before 4 p.m. Sunday when his older cousin grabbed an unsecured and unholstered handgun inside the vehicle where the two young boys were left, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) said Monday.
“There are no words to describe the heartbreak our family is experiencing,” a relative wrote on a GoFundMe fundraiser organized to raise money to bring Brayden’s body back to Georgia.
“What was meant to be a joyful vacation to Orlando to celebrate sweet Brayden’s 3rd birthday has turned into an unimaginable tragedy.”
“[Tuesday] should have been filled with birthday candles, laughter, hugs, and happy memories,” the page said.
“Instead, those who love Brayden are left mourning the loss of a beautiful little boy whose life was taken far too soon.”
The now-grieving family had traveled from Louisville, Ga., to the Cove East at Storey Lake rental community in Kissimmee, Fla., to celebrate what would have been Brayden’s 3rd birthday on Tuesday, WESH News 2 reported.
“His birthday is today,” Brayden’s aunt Dalfornia Tennyson told the outlet.
“Brayden was 2 years old. He was a real sweet child. Real friendly.”
The happy tot “would go up to kids and want to play” and loved snacks — especially gummy fruit snacks and cookies, according to the aunt.
“He used to say, ‘Auntie, I want a snack!’ He loved those gummy snacks in the pack.”
“We love him, and we’re gonna miss him,” the heartbroken aunt added.
In a statement to the outlet, Brayden’s sister remembered the toddler as “very smart” and just a “very happy baby.”
“I remember we used to come from school & he used to be waiting on us at the door screaming because he was happy to see us,” the unidentified sister wrote.
“He always loved eating all my food. He was just learning how to say my name & learning how to go to the bathroom by himself.”
“I hate this happened to him,” the grieving sister added.
According to investigators, the firearm belonged to Brayden’s mother and was left in the car with the two children while the adults went to check into the rental property.
“As they arrived at their destination, the two-year-old was left in the car, and a four-year-old family member entered the vehicle and located an unsecured, unholstered handgun,” an OCSO spokesperson said Monday.
“Family members were outside of the car and had not yet entered the home, when they heard a gunshot coming from inside the vehicle.”
The 2-year-old was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, where he was tragically later pronounced dead.
One family member was also taken to the hospital with chest pains amid the extreme distress caused by the incident, the sheriff’s office spokesperson said.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains ongoing and charges are possible pending review by the State Attorney’s Office.
