Grandma jailed after 8-year-old finds loaded shotgun and kills himself, TN cops say

An 8-year-old boy killed himself while playing with a loaded shotgun, and his grandmother is to blame, according to investigators in Tennessee.

Gracie Patton Mimms, 48, is accused of leaving the boy home without adult supervision the night of Sept. 14, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in an Oct. 3 news release. Phillip’e Woodard died after being taken to a hospital, officials said.

“Mimms was determined to have been the adult responsible for Philllip’e when she departed the N. 2nd Street home to go spend time with friends,” police said.

“She is alleged to have left him inside a room where a loaded shotgun was out and easily accessible. Phillip’e was handling the shotgun when it went off.”

Investigators say he was home with a 10-year-old brother and 16-year-old family friend at the time of the shooting.

“The 16-year-old reported being asleep when the gunshot went off, and he ran to a neighbor for help,” police said.

Mimms was arrested Oct. 2 and charged with criminal homicide and aggravated child neglect, according to jail records. Bond was set at $75,000.