21 Savage nephew death: family says teen died after sister was shot
Seven Shirley, 14, died after an Atlanta shooting that also injured his 12-year-old sister, according to police and family members.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
A 14-year-old boy described by 11Alive as a nephew of 21 Savage has died after an Atlanta shooting that also left his 12-year-old sister wounded, according to police and family members. The 21 Savage nephew death has prompted the family to call for action against minors getting access to guns.
Police said officers responded Wednesday to reports of gunfire and found two young people shot: a boy and a girl. The boy was identified as Seven Shirley, and police said he was found with a gunshot wound and no signs of life.
The girl was identified by the family as Lyric Shirley. Police said she had been shot in the neck and was taken to a hospital for emergency medical care.
What happened to 21 Savage's nephew?
Seven’s grandmother, Sharon Smith, told 11Alive that Seven died by suicide after shooting his sister. Smith said she had raised Seven since he was 11 months old.
Smith told the station she believes Seven made the decision in a moment of panic after the shooting. She said he may have feared jail and public ridicule after Lyric was hurt.
Lyric has had multiple surgeries this week, according to family accounts reported by TMZ. It was not clear from the reports when doctors might allow her to go home.
Family questions how Seven got a gun
Smith told 11Alive she does not know how Seven obtained a firearm. She said she wants the person who sold him the gun to be held accountable.
The family also released a statement asking the community to help stop young people from getting guns. In the statement, the family said too many children are being lost to gun violence and called for efforts to stop the illegal sale of firearms and access to weapons by minors.
21 Savage, who 11Alive reported has been identified as an uncle to Seven, posted about the teen after his death. The rapper shared a childhood photo of Seven and wrote, “Remember when you was a baby.”
No additional details about the police investigation were included in the reports. Police said they responded to the scene after the gunfire reports and found both children with gunshot wounds.
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This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.