A Missouri girl, aged just 14, accidentally shot and killed her 12-year-old cousin and then killed herself while she was streaming a birthday party on Instagram Live, her concerned family says.
St. Louis police initially described Friday’s incident, in which 12-year-old Paris Harvey shot and killed her 14-year-old cousin Kuaron Harvey before shooting herself, as a murder suicide.
But the children’s family have since described the horrific shooting, which took place at a home the family had rented to celebrate birthdays, as an “unusual accident”.
Police responded to the Cupples Station Loft Apartments at South 10th and Spruce Streets just after 2 a.m. Friday.
Kuaron and Paris, whose mother and father are siblings, were pronounced dead at the scene. Relatives have shut down reports of a murder-suicide, saying instead it was a “crazy accident”.
‘It wasn’t murder. It wasn’t a suicide,” Paris’ mother, 35-year-old Shinise Harvey, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “It was a crazy accident. It happened.’
Harvey said she did not see the video but family members described it to her.
She said the cousins tried to be too hip while live-streaming from the bathroom of the downtown apartment before the tragedy.
Twelve-year-old Paris Harvey (pictured) shot and killed her 14-year-old cousin Kuaron Harvey before shooting herself in what police originally described as a murder-suicide, but relatives said it was an unusual accident
After Kuaron (pictured) was shot in the head, Paris reached for the gun, which may have been accidentally triggered, also injuring her head, relatives said
The tragedy happened at an apartment the family rented for a party at South 10th and Spruce Streets just after 2 a.m. Friday. Kuaron and Paris were pronounced dead at the scene
Paris’ grandmother, Susan Dyson, said she saw the Instagram Live video the two cousins made together.
After Kuaron was shot in the head, Paris reached for the gun, which may have accidentally been triggered, also injuring her head, relatives said.
“It wasn’t a situation where they were arguing or anything like that,” Dyson told the Post-Dispatch.
‘They played with the gun when they shouldn’t have. Of course they shouldn’t have done it. I think it just took off. It started by accident.’
The gun was believed to have been brought to the party by Kuaron, but police are still investigating who the gun was registered to.
It’s unclear if law enforcement plans to press charges against any of the adults responsible for the children or their parents.
Family members told the Post-Dispatch that Paris and Kuaron were very close, called each other brother and sister, and were always face-timing, rapping, making videos, and playing pranks.
Angel Dyson, Paris’ aunt, also told the outlet the cousins were acting “older than they were.”
“No matter how well we try to raise our children,” said Shinise Harvey, “they will still dare.”
Paris’ sister, Tatyina Gilliehan, set up GoFundMe to raise money for funeral expenses. Kuaron’s mother, Dara Harvey, has also started a fundraiser
Police posted a tribute to the children on social media following their sudden death.
“We send our deepest condolences to the family of Paris Harvey, 12, and Kuaron Harvey, 14, who tragically passed away on 3/25/22.”
Family members said Paris, who was one of nine children, was a fun seventh grader who loved getting her hair and nails done and had a beautiful voice.
They described Kuaron as a goofy eighth-grader who had been able to do backflips for a long time.
According to the Post, the party was for teens and younger adults in the family.
While Paris and Kuaron were initially told they could not go to the party, their mothers eventually said yes when the children asked them to go.
Paris’ sister, Tatyina Gilliehan, started GoFundMe to raise money for funeral expenses. Kuaron’s mother, Dara Harvey, has also started a fundraiser.