DaMontez Jones: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

DaMontez Jones died on June 3rd of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. (Facebook)

A 15-year-old Missouri teenager has died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

There were no witnesses around for DaMontez Jones’ death, but police now believe he may have been trying to take a selfie with a loaded gun which unexpectedly discharged.

Here’s everything you need to know about DaMontez Jones.

1. He Accidentally Shot Himself in the Chest

DaMontez Jones’ old brothers say they heard the gunshot from another room in the house. (Facebook)

Police say that Jones died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, according to the St. Louis Dispatch. The shooting took place on Friday evening at around 7:30 p.m. at his home in Williamstown, Missouri.

He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The shooting has been ruled an accident, police say.

2. Police Believe He Shot Himself While Trying to Take a Selfie

Police believe Jones was attempting to take a selfie with a loaded gun. (Facebook)

The prevailing theory among police is that Jones shot himself while attempting to take a selfie with a gun.

Jones was found lying next to his cell phone, and his older brothers say he was trying to take a picture when the gun went off. However, neither of the brothers were actually in the room at the time.

Police say they will have more information when they are able to access the phone, but they say they can not currently get the phone working and are sending it to a lab to be examined.

“We’re pretty solid in that theory but will go the extra mile to see if there are pictures there,” Overland Police Lt. Steve Branham said.

3. No Adults Were Home at the Time

Jones lived at home with his mother and his mother’s fiance, neither of whom were home at the time. (Facebook)

At the time of the shooting, Jones was home with his older brothers, aged 16 and 17, as well as a younger half-sibling. There were not any adults present at the time of the shooting.

In an interview with the St. Louis Dispatch, the boy’s father, Dennis Jones, seemed to regret that his son was home without adult supervision.

“Parents should spend more time with their kids,” he said.

4. There Was No Lock on the Gun

The gun Jones shot himself with did not have a safety lock on it. (Facebook)

The gun Jones shot himself with belonged to his mother’s fiance, who works as a security guard.

Supposedly Jones found the gun in a bedroom closet. It was lying on the top shelf and was not in a locked box, nor did it have a safety lock. It sounds as if Jones assumed that the gun had some sort of safety on it and did not realize it could go off.

Dennis Jones said following his son’s death that police should give out gun safety locks for free so that accidents like this do not happen. Overland Police Lt. Steve Branham noted that it is possible the gun’s owner could be charged in the incident, though not very likely.

5. He Had Just Finished His Freshman Year of High School

DaMontez Jones had just finished his freshman year of high school. (Facebook)

Jones had just finished up his freshman year at Ritenour High School, and he had a bright future ahead of him.

The 15-year-old, who went by “Tez,” had recently been baptized and began regularly attending church, his paternal grandmother said. She added that he loved to play golf and was a very smart boy.