Sandy Springs, February 20, 2026
A father in Sandy Springs has been charged with second-degree murder following the fatal shooting of his 2-year-old son. The incident, resulting from an improperly secured firearm, highlights the ongoing national issue of gun safety in homes with children. Authorities report the child accessed a loaded pistol that was carelessly left out, leading to a tragic and preventable accident. The community mourns a young life lost to negligence, urging reflection on firearm safety standards.
Sandy Springs
Tragedy Strikes Sandy Springs as Father Charged in 2-Year-Old Son’s Fatal Shooting
In a somber unfolding of events in Sandy Springs, a father has been charged following the tragic shooting death of his 2-year-old son on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Officials have stated that the incident, which occurred at an apartment complex, resulted from an improperly secured firearm, casting a profound shadow over a community and underscoring the enduring fragility of life.
Circumstances of the Incident
The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon, around 2 p.m., at an apartment complex located in the 2600 block of Sandalwood Drive. According to details from warrants, Richard Willis and his wife had recently returned home from a medical procedure. The couple’s 2-year-old son, River Willis, was placed in his father’s bed with a cellphone for a nap. Richard Willis reportedly removed a fanny pack containing a loaded 9mm pistol and placed it on the same master bedroom bed. Warrants indicate that the child later came downstairs, informing his father that the cellphone’s battery had depleted, and requested that his father lie with him until he fell asleep. Willis instructed the child to return upstairs, indicating he would join him shortly. Minutes later, a gunshot was heard. Willis ran upstairs to discover his fanny pack open, the pistol lying near his son’s leg, and the child with a fatal gunshot wound to the face. Officers and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and attempted life-saving measures, but the child was pronounced deceased.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Investigators determined that the tragic death was a direct consequence of an improperly secured firearm. Authorities further allege that Richard Willis was aware his son knew the location where the pistol was stored within the fanny pack and failed to secure the weapon in a safe place. In light of these findings, Richard Willis has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children. He was subsequently transported to the Fulton County Jail.
The Broader Shadow of Unsecured Firearms
This incident in Sandy Springs reflects a larger, nationwide concern regarding firearm safety, particularly in homes with children. Unintentional shootings involving children remain a poignant and preventable tragedy across the United States. Annually, nearly 1,300 children under the age of 18 succumb to injuries from shootings. This figure is a sobering reminder of the constant vigilance required from adults in environments where firearms are present. It is estimated that one in three families with children possess at least one gun, translating to over 22 million children residing in homes where firearms are kept.
A significant majority, approximately 85%, of unintentional firearm injury deaths occur within a house or apartment, with 56% taking place in the child’s own home. Children aged 0–5 years account for a notable portion of these deaths, with 57.8% of firearm injuries in this age group being self-inflicted. The pathways to such tragedies are varied, yet frequently involve guns that are stored loaded, unlocked, or both. Data shows that in incidents with known storage details, firearms used were stored loaded in 73.8% of cases and unlocked in 76.2% of cases.
Beyond the numbers, these events carry an immeasurable human cost. The sudden cessation of a young life, particularly under such circumstances, leaves an indelible mark of sorrow and questions that linger. While parents often harbor intentions of protecting children from harm, many underestimate a child’s awareness of firearms within the home. Research indicates that 75% of children in homes with guns know where these weapons are stored. Moreover, children as young as three years old possess the physical capability to discharge a handgun. In a concerning percentage of cases (16%), children under 13 involved in unintentional firearm deaths have mistaken a real gun for a toy.
A Call for Reflection
The quiet moments of everyday life, such as an afternoon nap, can be irrevocably altered by a single lapse in secure firearm storage. The profound implications of this event in Sandy Springs, and the multitude of similar tragedies across the nation, extend beyond legal repercussions to the very fabric of community well-being. Preventing these incidents requires a conscientious commitment to secure gun storage practices. The widely accepted standard for firearm safety in homes includes keeping all guns unloaded, locked up, and separate from ammunition. This simple, yet critical, measure serves as a bulwark against the unintentional and often fatal encounters between curious young hands and accessible firearms. The sorrow that now envelops a family in Sandy Springs serves as a poignant reminder of the weighty responsibility that accompanies firearm ownership, and the preciousness of every young life. The careful securing of a firearm is not merely a procedural act, but a humane safeguard against a sorrow that words cannot adequately convey.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened in Sandy Springs on Wednesday?
- A 2-year-old child was fatally shot in an apartment complex in Sandy Springs on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
- Who was charged in connection with the child’s death?
- The child’s father, Richard Willis, was arrested and charged in connection with the 2-year-old’s death.
- What were the charges against the father?
- Richard Willis was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children.
- How did the shooting occur?
- Warrants indicate that Richard Willis left a loaded 9mm pistol in a fanny pack on his master bedroom bed. His 2-year-old son, River Willis, later accessed the firearm and fatally shot himself in the face.
- What is the national context regarding unintentional child shootings?
- Nationally, nearly 1,300 children younger than 18 years of age die from shootings every year. The majority (85%) of these deaths occur at a house or apartment.
- What is the recommended standard for secure gun storage?
- The gold standard for secure gun storage is to keep all guns unloaded, locked up, and separate from ammunition.
Key Information Regarding Unintentional Child Shootings
| Category | Detail (Scope) |
|---|---|
| Annual Child Firearm Deaths | Nearly 1,300 children under 18 (Nationwide) |
| Households with Guns | 1 in 3 families with children have at least one gun (Nationwide) |
| Location of Incidents | 85% of unintentional firearm deaths occur in a house or apartment; 56% in victim’s own home (Nationwide) |
| Self-Inflicted Injuries (0-5 years) | 57.8% of unintentional firearm injuries in this age group are self-inflicted (Nationwide) |
| Children’s Awareness of Guns | 75% of children in homes with guns know where they are stored (Nationwide) |
| Age Capable of Firing | Children as young as 3 years old may be strong enough to pull a handgun trigger (Nationwide) |
| Guns Mistaken for Toys | 16% of unintentional firearm deaths among children under 13 involved a gun mistaken for a toy (Nationwide) |
| Unsecured Firearm Storage | Firearms were stored loaded in 73.8% and unlocked in 76.2% of incidents with known storage info (Nationwide) |
| 2023 Unintentional Shootings | Worst year on record, surpassing 400 incidents (Nationwide) |
| Secure Storage Standard | Unloaded, locked up, and separate from ammunition (Nationwide) |
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Author: STAFF HERE ATLANTA WRITER
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