Brayden Tennyson was killed one day before his third birthday after a young cousin found a handgun in the family’s vehicle.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A family trip to Florida to celebrate a Georgia boy’s third birthday ended in tragedy when the toddler was fatally shot shortly after the group arrived at a Kissimmee vacation home, authorities and relatives said.
Brayden Tennyson, 2, of Louisville, Georgia, died after his 4-year-old cousin found an unsecured handgun inside a vehicle and fired it, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. The shooting happened shortly before 4 p.m. Monday, July 13, the day before Brayden’s birthday.
The family had traveled to the Orlando area for a vacation centered on the child’s birthday. Relatives had parked outside a rental home on Scrapbook Street and had not yet entered the residence when they heard a gunshot coming from the vehicle, Sheriff Chris Blackmon said.
Investigators said Brayden had remained inside the vehicle. At some point, his young cousin entered, located an unsecured and unholstered handgun and pulled the trigger. The weapon belonged to Brayden’s mother, the sheriff’s office said.
Emergency personnel tried to save Brayden before taking him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities have not released the names of the other relatives who were present.
A fundraiser established for the family said the trip had been intended to create happy memories around Brayden’s third birthday. Instead, relatives were left grieving a child whose life ended before the planned celebration.
“Tomorrow should have been filled with birthday candles, laughter, hugs, and happy memories,” the family wrote in the fundraiser. “Instead, those who love Brayden are left mourning the loss of a beautiful little boy whose life was taken far too soon.”
Brayden’s death also brought mourning to his hometown in Jefferson County, Georgia. A community gathering was planned in Louisville to remember him as relatives prepared to bring him home.
Blackmon said the case showed how quickly an unsecured firearm can become deadly when a child reaches it. He said the weapon had been left where it could be picked up and fired without a lock or other barrier.
The sheriff’s Homicide Unit continues to investigate. The medical examiner and the Florida Department of Children and Families were notified, and no final decision on possible criminal charges had been announced as of Wednesday.
Author note: Last updated July 15, 2026.