The heartbroken family of a five-year-old boy shot dead by his young cousin celebrated his life with a memorial featuring the victim’s face printed on cupcakes.
Braxton Marvin Scott Dykstra was at his maternal grandparents’ home in Garfield Township, Michigan, watching TV with his sister on April 1 when the gun went off.
The six-year-old relative had found the 12 gauge Remington pump-action shotgun that their grandfather used to kill bugs.
Braxton’s sister got up to tell an adult but “didn’t come out the door” before it was fired.
Five-year-old Braxton Dykstra (pictured) was shot and killed by his cousin in Garfield Township, Michigan
Cupcakes decorated with small cutouts of Braxton’s face were served at the memorial where heartbroken family members gathered to celebrate the young boy’s life
Police were called to the Newaygo County, Michigan home on April 1 around 3:25 p.m
According to a report, police were called to the home near West 68th Street and Bingham Avenue in Newaygo County around 3:25 p.m.
A girl interviewed at the scene told police: ‘[Name redacted] had a gun and I told him to put it down. He accidentally pulled the trigger [name redacted].’
She claimed the child had joked about shooting the child, but accidentally fired the gun as he put it down.
According to court documents, a man at the scene, whose name was not released, said the gun was not loaded and that other weapons were stashed in the home.
He told a soldier, “I didn’t even know where he got that bullet.”
Police were told the weapon was last used two months ago to shoot a raccoon on the property, requiring only one grenade. He believed it had been used and then the gun was put back in the corner with the safety on.
Domynic Dykstra, Braxton’s devastated father, is now demanding justice for his young son – and expects charges to be laid, with the incident turning one side of the family against the other.
He wants not only the grandparents to be held accountable, but also the mother of the six-year-old child.
“It’s obviously a parent’s worst nightmare,” he said 13 On your side. “I hope we can actually get justice for my son.”
Braxton was known to enjoy making other people laugh, including his sister, who is only just beginning to understand that he isn’t coming back to play anymore
Braxton’s father is now sharing a message about gun safety and encouraging anyone with a firearm to make sure it is locked away in a safe to avoid the pain his family is facing
He believes the tragedy could have been prevented if proper gun safety protocol was followed.
“Right now it just sounds like grandma and grandpa are going to get it [charged]he told the outlet.
He says his son was “a little joker” who enjoyed running around and making people laugh, including his two sisters and a little brother.
“My daughter, it dawned on her last night that my son will never come back,” he said.
“She understood he would never come back, but last night I held her tight because she told me she couldn’t sleep without her ‘bubby’.”
Domynic is now on a mission to share Braxton’s story and encourage gun owners to ensure their weapons are put away to avoid the same heartache the family is now experiencing.
“Obviously if you have a safe, that’s the ideal thing: throw it in a safe and get it over with,” he said.
“My main goal right now is to obviously prevent this from happening again.
“I’ve been through so much pain that I don’t want anyone else to experience that.”
Gun owners in Michigan are required to keep weapons in a locked box if minors are expected on a premises, under the safe storage law that went into effect on February 13.
Braxton is survived by two sisters and a brother, as well as loving parents Domynic and Paige
With Braxton in his heart, Domynic says he wants to get his instructor’s license to teach young people about gun safety
Domynic expects the Newaygo County Prosecutor’s Office to file charges next week.
Under the state’s safe storage law enacted Feb. 13, gun owners are required to store weapons in a locked box if there is any expectation that a minor will be on the premises.
In a celebration of life, a motorcade passed through the town and a luncheon was held at Newyago High School, with much of the community in attendance.
The Newaygo County Prosecutor’s Office says the case is still pending.