In a Brunswick neighborhood, a Saturday night turned tragic when 14-year-old Dazariah Easton lost her life in an accidental shooting. The Glynn County Coroner confirmed her identity, leaving a community in mourning and reigniting urgent conversations about gun safety. The incident, which unfolded inside a home near Stonewall Street on Altama Avenue, has shaken residents and drawn attention to the devastating consequences of unsecured firearms.

According to the Brunswick Police Department, 17-year-old Daquarius Wallace was mishandling a firearm when it discharged, fatally striking Easton. Wallace now faces charges of second-degree murder, cruelty to children, possession of a firearm by a minor, and reckless conduct. Alongside him, 21-year-old Bobby Sullivan was arrested, charged with cruelty to children, theft by receiving stolen property, reckless conduct, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Both are currently in custody at the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, as the community grapples with the loss of a young life.

Neighbors described the scene as chaotic, with police swarming the area late Saturday. The tragedy has left an indelible mark on those who knew Easton, a teenager whose life was cut short in an instant. “It’s heartbreaking,” one neighbor shared, their voice heavy with grief. “This shouldn’t happen to anyone, especially a child.”

The incident adds to a grim statistic: according to Everytown for Gun Safety, 2025 has already seen at least 154 unintentional shootings by children across the United States, resulting in 62 deaths and 95 injuries. Georgia, with 12 such incidents, leads the nation, followed closely by Florida with 11. These numbers underscore a growing crisis, where unsecured firearms in homes too often lead to preventable tragedies.

Jennifer Massey, chapter lead for Moms Demand Action Florida, emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue. “Firearm deaths are the leading cause of death among our children and teens in this country,” she said. Her organization, part of a grassroots movement advocating for gun safety, stresses that such incidents are not inevitable. “They’re preventable,” Massey asserted, pointing to practical solutions like secure firearm storage, gun locks, and safes. These measures, she argues, could save countless lives by ensuring weapons are kept out of reach of children and teens.

As Brunswick mourns Dazariah Easton, her death serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of inaction. The community now faces the dual challenge of healing from this loss and working to prevent future tragedies. For Massey and others, the path forward is clear: prioritizing gun safety is not just a policy issue—it’s a matter of life and death.