Dad charged after 11-year-old son accidentally kills himself while playing with unsecured gun, police say

ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) – An 11-year-old boy from St. Louis accidentally shot and killed himself while playing with unsecured guns at home, officials said.

Police said Marshaun Futrell Jr. was playing with guns from his home on May 5 when a firearm accidentally discharged and a bullet struck him.

His father, Marshaun A. Futrell Sr., has been charged with first-degree child endangerment resulting in death, a class A felony, and two additional counts of first-degree child endangerment, class D felonies.

Police said the dad had 12 loaded guns in the home, where children could easily access them.

Investigating officers interviewed a 13-year-old witness who said the victim had two firearms in his backpack and they were playing with the guns. The firearm discharged and a bullet struck the victim, the witness told police.

A 2-year-old was also present when the shooting happened, according to police.

Marshaun Jr.’s uncle Harlan Futrell is still at a loss for words that his nephew is gone.

“My mind still hasn’t processed it to realize he’s no longer here with us,” Harlan Futrell said.

The 11-year-old is described as a great kid who loved his family deeply.

“When he would walk in the room, his smile, he was very quiet and humble, but his smile brightened up the room. He was a hard worker. He loved his family,” Harlan Futrell said.

His uncle said Marshaun Jr. was an incredible football player who traveled the country to play, and he was already one of the top running backs in the country for his age group.

The child’s uncle is asking other gun owners to have talks with their kids about gun safety.

“Get gun locks and put them up where kids can’t get to them,” Harlan Futrell said.

Kaitlyn Vogel is an injury prevention coordinator at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis and said she goes out into the community weekly to offer free gun locks.

“Guns in general, gunshot wounds, are the leading cause of death of pediatric patients that’s preventable,” Vogel said.

Vogel said on a weekly basis, workers are going into the community to give out free gun locks, including at events, schools or going door-to-door in neighborhoods they’ve treated victims in.

In 2025 so far, Cardinal Glennon has given out about 3,000 free gun locks.

“Kids are smart. Kids can find guns even if they’re on the top shelf,” Vogel said. “The most important thing is locking up those guns and keeping the key separate so they’re not able to unlock that gun. The other part is locking up your ammunition separately so they’re not able to load that gun.”

Many emergency rooms will give out gun locks for free, no questions asked.

There is also a GoFundMe to the Futrell family with the unexpected funeral costs for Marshaun Jr.

“He was loved. We lost a good one,” his uncle said.

Marshaun Futrell Sr. is being held in the St. Louis County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond. He has a bond reduction hearing set for Wednesday.

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