3-Year-Old Boy Dies After Shooting Himself When Babysitter Didn't Secure Gun

Babysitter Elliot Staples III pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the death of JaJuan Robinson Jr.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 5:15pm

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A 31-year-old Minnesota man was sentenced to 180 days in jail after a 3-year-old boy he was babysitting got hold of a gun and accidentally shot himself to death. Elliot Staples III pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the death of JaJuan Robinson Jr. in Minneapolis in October 2024.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the importance of gun safety, especially when children are present. It raises questions about the responsibility of gun owners and caregivers to properly secure firearms to prevent such accidents.

The details

Staples said he took his gun out of the holster he was wearing on his hip and placed it on the center of the kitchen island, thinking the boy could not reach the weapon. As he was going to the bathroom, Staples heard a gunshot and found JaJuan bleeding from the head and suffering from a gunshot wound. The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital.

  • On October 21, 2024, Staples was babysitting JaJuan Robinson Jr.
  • On Wednesday, a judge sentenced Staples to serve 180 days behind bars beginning on March 3, 2026.

The players

Elliot Staples III

A 31-year-old Minnesota man who was babysitting JaJuan Robinson Jr. when the 3-year-old boy got hold of Staples' gun and accidentally shot himself to death.

JaJuan Robinson Jr.

A 3-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself to death after getting hold of the gun of the babysitter, Elliot Staples III, who was watching him.

Charlotte Williams

The mother of JaJuan Robinson Jr., who expressed outrage that her son got his hands on a firearm.

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What they’re saying

“For him to get a hold of a gun, how? He thought it was a toy. My baby accidentally shot himself in the head.”

— Charlotte Williams, Mother of JaJuan Robinson Jr. (KSTP)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Elliot Staples III out on probation after serving his 180-day sentence.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the critical importance of gun owners and caregivers ensuring firearms are properly secured, especially when children are present, to prevent such devastating accidents from occurring.