Holmes County man charged after 6-year-old dies in shooting

HOLMES COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday that they had arrested a man who they believe is connected to the shooting death of a six-year-old.

Back in April of this year, the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Twin Lake Drive about a child who had been shot. The sheriff’s office says the child did not survive their injuries despite life-saving efforts by Holmes County first responders.

During the investigation, the sheriff’s office says they determined that Jimmy Myers and the victim’s mother had used methamphetamine a couple of hours before the incident.

According to investigators, findings indicated the victim’s mother later went to a nearby camper, and Myers remained at the home with the six-year-old victim and the victim’s seven-year-old sibling.

The sheriff’s office says the investigators determined Myers had shown the seven-year-old a firearm and allowed him to handle it before the shooting.

Investigators said Myers then left to take a shower, leaving the gun on the bed.

According to the investigation, while Myers was in the shower, the seven-year-old child allegedly got the gun, entered a bedroom where the six-year-old victim was, and discharged it, resulting in the victim being shot.

The sheriff’s office said toxicology results obtained during the investigation indicated that Myers tested positive for meth.

Myers has now been arrested and charged with Aggravated Manslaughter of a child and leaving a loaded firearm within access of a child.

The case is still ongoing.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter).

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WJHG News app, and check out what’s happening outside using the WJHG Weather app.