POINT PLEASANT, WEST VIRGINIA: Wyatt Eaves-Nibert, a 10-year-old boy who went missing after a hunting trip with his grandfather, was reportedly found dead due to a gunshot wound.
The incident unfolded when police responded to an ATV accident involving Eaves-Nibert's grandfather, Delmar Cook, which occurred an hour after the boy disappeared.
When did Wyatt Eaves-Nibert go missing?
As per West Virginia MetroNews, Eaves-Nibert went missing during a squirrel hunting excursion in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, on Saturday, September 10.
Wyatt was reportedly carrying a .22 rifle with him, but investigators have not confirmed if they suspected any foul play.
She said, “He always wanted to be a Marine. He would always tell me, mom, when I turn eighteen, I’m going to be a Marine. Everybody at school loved him. He was so respectful. He put everybody else first."
Where did Wyatt Eaves-Nibert go to school?
Eaves-Nibert was a fifth-grade student at Roosevelt Elementary School in Mason County.
According to Casto Funeral Home, he was born on June 17, 2013, in Point Pleasant, WV. He was the son of Franklin Scott Eaves and Adrienne Dawn (Jason) Nibert.
Eaves-Nibert was remembered as a young boy who enjoyed hunting, fishing, wrestling, heavy metal music and had a strong interest in military-related activities.
Adrienne said Eaves-Nibert was very close to his grandfather and shared that they were squirrel hunting together when the incident occurred.
Adrrienne said, "They were eating lunch together, he told grandpa he was going to walk around the road a little bit the path to see if he could see any squirrels," per WCHS.
She added, "Wyatt was very trained on gun safety. He knew not to walk around without the safety off and he knew to carry the gun on his back with it pointed in the air. He had very good trigger discipline."
He is survived by his parents, two siblings, grandparents, three great-grandparents and a great-great-grandmother.
Wyatt's passing is a devastating tragedy, and his family, friends, and community are undoubtedly deeply affected by the loss.
According to WSAZ 3, his body has been sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office for further investigation.
Are guns now the leading cause of death for US children?
Ana analysis of of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data by the Pew Research Center revealed a distressing trend.
Between 2019 and 2021, there was a 50% increase in the number of children and teenagers who lost their lives due to guns.
In 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, there were 1,732 gun-related deaths among children and teenagers under the age of 18. However, by 2021, this figure had risen significantly to 2,590.
It is also notable that boys accounted for the majority of these gun-related deaths.
