The 2-year-old was visiting Kissimmee with relatives when his 4-year-old cousin found a handgun inside the family’s vehicle.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A 2-year-old Georgia boy died after his 4-year-old cousin found an unsecured handgun inside a vehicle and fired it as their family arrived at a Florida vacation rental, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said.
The shooting happened shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday, July 12, after the family traveled from Louisville, Georgia, to Kissimmee for a vacation. Authorities said relatives were outside the vehicle and had not yet entered the rental home when they heard a gunshot from inside the car.
The victim was identified as Brayden Tennyson. His family had traveled to Florida to celebrate his upcoming third birthday, according to relatives and information released during the investigation. Deputies took Brayden to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators said Brayden had been left inside the vehicle when his 4-year-old cousin entered it. The older child found a handgun that authorities described as unsecured and unholstered. The firearm belonged to Brayden’s mother, Sheriff Chris Blackmon said during a news briefing.
Authorities described the shooting as unintentional, but the investigation remained open. Blackmon said no charges had been filed as of the briefing, though investigators planned to discuss the case with the State Attorney’s Office after gathering the available evidence.
The Sheriff’s Office homicide unit responded to the scene. The Medical Examiner’s Office and the Florida Department of Children and Families also were notified, which is standard when a young child dies under circumstances requiring further investigation.
Officials said the relatives were cooperating with investigators. Authorities had not interviewed the 4-year-old immediately after the shooting, and officials did not release further information about where the handgun had been stored within the vehicle or how long the children were without an adult inside the car.
Another family member was taken to a hospital after experiencing chest pain during the emergency, according to the Sheriff’s Office. No other physical injuries were reported.
Relatives said the vacation was intended to mark Brayden’s third birthday. A family fundraiser described him as a cheerful child whose relatives had expected to spend the trip celebrating with him. The family was seeking help returning his body to Georgia and covering expenses related to his death.
Investigators had not announced any charges or released a final determination Thursday. The case remained under review by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, with any possible criminal charges expected to depend on the completed investigation and a decision by prosecutors.
Author note: Last updated July 16, 2026.