Durham Mom Charged After 4-Year-Old Son Fatally Shoots Himself With Unsecured Handgun

DURHAM, N.C. — A Durham mother is facing involuntary manslaughter charges nearly two months after her 4-year-old son fatally shot himself with an unsecured handgun inside their home.

Tragedy on North Briggs Avenue

The incident occurred on June 23 inside a home on North Briggs Avenue in East Durham. According to police, Ka’Marii Patterson, just four years old, shot himself with a Glock 20 Gen 5 handgun that had been left unsecured.

Tiera McArthur, 26, was arrested Tuesday, August 5, following a grand jury indictment issued on July 21. She is accused of failing to properly conceal, lock, or secure the firearm, which led to her son’s death, court documents show.

What Happened That Night

A woman who was inside the home at the time—not identified in court records—told police she heard “a pop,” followed by Ka’Marii screaming and running from the room. The woman reportedly found a gun on the floor and placed it in a drawer, where responding officers later recovered it.

Investigators also seized two 10mm handguns, two .40 caliber cartridges, and two projectile fragments from the home, according to a search warrant.

A Mother’s Grief and Social Media Posts

Hours after the tragedy, McArthur took to Facebook Live, saying,

“You always hear kids accidentally [getting] guns and shooting themselves… but you will never, never think it was you.”

Later that day, she posted that she was “taking full accountability” but denied that the guns were left out in the presence of her 4-year-old son.

Family Remembers Ka’Marii Patterson

Ka’Marii’s obituary described him as a “bright light” with a joyful spirit that brought warmth to everyone around him.

His great-grandmother, Tina McLean, tearfully recalled how much he loved toys:

“Every time he would come to my house, my other grandson has a container of toys he will always go to and pull them toys out.”
“My grandbaby was loving, and I’m going to miss him so much,” she added.

Charges and Legal Update

In addition to the involuntary manslaughter charge, McArthur was also served an outstanding warrant in an unrelated case from another jurisdiction. She was released on $50,000 secured bail on Tuesday afternoon.

Conclusion: A Preventable Loss

This heartbreaking case underscores the importance of safe firearm storage, particularly in homes with children. While the investigation continues, a family is left mourning a young life lost too soon, and a community is reminded of the devastating consequences of unsecured weapons.