The post Virginia Mom Loses Nonverbal 5-Year-Old Who Accidentally Shot Himself With a Gun That Was Left on a Couch During Beauty Appointment in a Friend’s Home first appeared on Crafting Your Home.
A Virginia mother is mourning her five-year-old son after an ordinary beauty appointment at a friend’s apartment ended in tragedy.
Monique Richardson had brought her nonverbal son, Qatif, along while she visited a friend to have her eyelashes done. But shortly after they entered the apartment, the little boy found an unsecured handgun and accidentally shot himself.
According to WTVR CBS 6, Richardson said the gun had been left on a couch. She is now questioning why the firearm wasn’t secured when the owner knew a young child was visiting.
The October 24, 2026, shooting happened at the Cool Lane Commons apartment complex in Henrico County, Virginia. Police have charged a man in connection with the child’s death.
The incident has also raised concerns about firearm storage in homes, particularly when children are visiting.
The Little Boy Had Been Enjoying an Ordinary Day With His Mother
Before the tragedy, Qatif had been spending time with his mother, doing the kinds of everyday things that families rarely imagine will become lasting memories.
Richardson told WTVR that her son attended Highland Springs Elementary School and enjoyed watching YouTube videos on his iPad.
He also loved M&M’s.
On the day of the shooting, his iPad had lost its charge before they left home to run errands.
Their first stop was Roses, where Qatif spotted his favorite candy and picked it up.
At the checkout counter, a cashier noticed how much the boy resembled his mother. Richardson remembered their brief conversation, which became one of her final ordinary moments with Qatif.
The grieving mother also described the close relationship she shared with her son.
“He was nonverbal. He couldn’t talk, and no one understood him but me,” Richardson told WTVR reporter Melissa Hipolit.
Her memories offer a glimpse of the little boy behind the headlines, a child who enjoyed his favorite videos and candy and shared a special connection with his mother.
The Shooting Happened Within Four Minutes of Their Arrival
Later that afternoon, Richardson and Qatif arrived at a friend’s apartment in eastern Henrico County.
The mother had arranged to get her eyelashes done.
According to prosecutors, Steven Renard Blakeney Jr., the boyfriend of the woman providing the service, let Richardson and her son into the apartment.
Blakeney reportedly saw that Richardson had brought her five-year-old child with her.
What happened next unfolded extremely quickly.
During a court hearing, Henrico County Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Alison Martin said Qatif found Blakeney’s handgun and accidentally shot himself within four minutes of entering the apartment.
Richardson told WTVR that she was preparing to pay her friend when she heard the gunshot.
She then discovered her son on the floor.
According to WTVR’s coverage of the court proceedings, investigators determined that the child had accessed Blakeney’s unsecured firearm.
Henrico Police and Fire personnel responded to the Cool Lane Commons apartments at approximately 4:44 p.m.
Qatif was pronounced dead at the scene.
The short timeline is among the most troubling details of the case. A visit intended for a routine beauty service had ended in a family’s loss within minutes.
Investigators Found That Firearm Locks Were Available in the Apartment
Following the shooting, investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the unsecured handgun.
According to a criminal complaint described in WTVR’s initial reporting, Blakeney regularly carried a handgun in his waistband or pocket without a holster.
When he wasn’t carrying the weapon, he reportedly placed it on furniture, including a dresser or counter.
The complaint also indicated that boxes or locks suitable for securing a firearm were present inside the apartment.
Blakeney wasn’t the apartment’s leaseholder, but investigators said he frequently stayed there and was in a relationship with the woman who lived there.
During the initial bond hearing, prosecutors said his girlfriend had previously told him to put his gun away because it wasn’t a toy.
These details have become important to understanding the allegations against Blakeney.
Richardson expressed frustration that the firearm had allegedly been left accessible despite her son’s presence.
For homeowners and families, the incident raises a practical question: What steps should be taken to ensure firearms are secured before children enter a home?
The Gun Owner Faces Criminal Charges
Police arrested Blakeney, 26, on October 24, the day of the shooting.
He faces two misdemeanor charges: improper storage of firearms and allowing access to firearms by children.
According to an official Henrico Police announcement, the investigation remained ongoing following his arrest.
Virginia law specifically addresses the dangers of leaving firearms accessible to children.
Under Virginia Code §18.2-56.2, recklessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm in a way that endangers a child younger than 14 is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
A judge initially denied Blakeney bond on October 29.
However, during a subsequent hearing on November 5, a judge granted him a $10,000 bond.
His release conditions included electronic monitoring, a prohibition on possessing firearms, and no contact with anyone younger than 18.
Blakeney has been charged, not convicted, and the allegations remain subject to court proceedings.
His next court date was reported as January 4, 2027.
A Grieving Mother Wants Other Families to Learn From Her Loss
For Richardson, the legal proceedings cannot change what happened to her son.
She told WTVR that knowing Blakeney could spend the coming holidays with his family was especially painful because Qatif would no longer be with hers.
Richardson also has three other children, and she described how difficult daily life has become since the shooting.
She hopes sharing Qatif’s story will encourage gun owners to take firearm storage seriously.
Her concerns are particularly relevant to households where children may visit unexpectedly or spend time with friends and relatives.
The Project ChildSafe home firearm-safety guidance recommends keeping firearms secured when they aren’t in use and storing ammunition separately.
It also emphasizes the importance of preventing unauthorized access.
Meanwhile, the Henrico investigation continues.
Authorities have asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact Detective C. Andrews at 804-501-5000. Anonymous information can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
Richardson’s m