Sandy Springs toddler fatally shot after accessing gun in fanny pack

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A Sandy Springs father is facing felony charges after authorities say he left a loaded handgun unsecured, leading to the shooting death of his 2-year-old son.

Richard Willis has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children in the death of his son, River Willis.

According to arrest warrants filed in Fulton County Magistrate Court, Willis and his wife returned home from a medical procedure and put their son down for a nap in his bedroom with a cellphone.

Investigators say Willis told detectives he removed his fanny pack, which contained a loaded 9mm pistol, and placed it on the bed in the master bedroom. The child later came downstairs and told his father the phone had died, asking him to lie down with him until he fell asleep.

The affidavit states that Willis told his son to return to the master bedroom and said he would come upstairs shortly. Minutes later, Willis reported hearing a gunshot. He ran upstairs and found the fanny pack open, the handgun near the child’s leg, and the toddler suffering from a gunshot wound to the face.

Authorities allege the child removed the pistol from the fanny pack and shot himself, resulting in his death.

Investigators say Willis acted with criminal negligence by leaving the loaded firearm unsecured and directing his son to the room where it was accessible, despite knowing the child was aware the gun was kept inside the fanny pack.

The shooting occurred around 2 p.m. at the Carlyle of Sandy Springs apartments on Sandalwood Drive.

A national analysis by Everytown for Gun Safety found that children in the United States unintentionally shoot themselves or others nearly every day after gaining access to unsecured firearms.

Reviewing more than 3,500 incidents from 2015 to 2024, researchers found an average of about 360 children per year were involved in accidental shootings, most often inside homes and frequently involving siblings or friends.

The group’s research shows that high schoolers and children ages five and younger account for the largest share of both shooters and victims in unintentional child shootings, with the most significant recent increase involving toddlers and preschoolers.

From 2015 to 2024, shootings by children age five and under rose 35%, while incidents involving teens declined 15%. Boys represent the majority of both shooters and victims. Younger children are more likely to unintentionally shoot themselves, while older teens more often unintentionally shoot others, typically siblings or friends.