21 Savage pays tribute to 'nephew' who died after accidentally shooting his little sister
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Rapper 21 Savage has paid homage to a teenager who was ‘like a nephew’ to him after he allegedly died by suicide after shooting his younger sister by accident.
The family of Seven Shirley, a 14-year-old boy from Stockbridge, Georgia, has called on gun crime campaigners to help get weapons ‘off the streets’, claiming ‘no family should ever have to experience this kind of pain’ as 12-year-old Lyric reportedly continues to recover in hospital after allegedly being shot in the neck by her older brother.
Seven’s grandmother, Sharon Smith, told local news station 11Alive that Shirley ‘made the decision to kill himself’ on Wednesday afternoon (22 July).
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“Just that fast that boy had made the decision to kill himself,” the woman said. “He probably sat up there and thought, ‘I’m finna go to jail, they’re going to ridicule me, everybody is going to be doing this and that and this … and he couldn’t take it.'”
Smith, who said she raised Seven from when he was 11 months old, described he teen as a ‘loving grandson’ who doted on her every day.
The New York Post reported that 21 Savage, whose real name is Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, shared a series of images to his Instagram Stories in the wake of the child’s death.
The first was an image of the young boy wearing a ‘21 chain’ with the caption: “Remember when you was a baby,” followed by a string of broken heart emojis.
In another, Shirley was seen sitting on the lap of 21 Savage.
In a statement shared with 11Alive, the family of Shirley said: “As we prepare for the homegoing celebration for my beloved nephew, Seven, I respectfully ask everyone to please honor our family’s privacy during this incredibly difficult time.
“Please continue to keep my niece, Lyric, in your prayers. She is fighting for her life, and we are believing God for her healing, strength, and complete recovery.”
The New York Post reported that Lyric currently remains in hospital after undergoing three surgeries to her neck and vocal cords.
Complex reported that Shirley’s friends confirmed he’d purchased the gun that he shot his sister with on the street for $200.
The decision to buy the weapon was made after his best friend was shot in the week before the incident, as per the publication.
Smith claimed she and the family had ‘no idea’ that he had the weapon.
"Something needs to be done about that person who sold that gun because if he would have never bought that gun, this would have never happened.”
In a broader statement, the family added: "Please help us get these guns off our streets. Far too many young lives are being taken by senseless gun violence.
“We must work together to stop the illegal sale and access of firearms to minors and do everything we can to protect our children. Our family has lost one child, and another is fighting for her life. No family should ever have to experience this kind of pain."
The devastating tragedy comes just weeks after Shirley’s cousin, 13-year-old DeMarcus Shirley, was killed in a drive-by shooting while spending the night with friends in DeKalb County, Smith told Alive11.
LADbible Group have contacted Stockbridge Police Department and 21 Savage's representatives for comment.
Ella Scott