21 Savage’s family calls for action on illegal guns after 14-year-old ‘nephew’ dies by suicide

21 Savage’s family says 14-year-old nephew died by suicide after allegedly shooting his 12-year-old sister, prompting a plea to curb illegal guns.

A 14-year-old boy described by relatives as a “nephew” of rapper 21 Savage has died by suicide after allegedly shooting his younger sister, according to the family.

TMZ reported that officers responded to reports of gunfire on Wednesday and arrived to find two young people shot, a boy and a girl. The boy, identified as Seven Shirley, was found with a gunshot wound and showed no signs of life.

His sister, identified by relatives as 12-year-old Lyric Shirley, was struck in the neck and rushed to the hospital for emergency care. Per the outlet, Lyric has undergone multiple surgeries this week, and it remains unclear when doctors will clear her to go home.

Seven’s grandmother, Sharon Smith, who raised him from the time he was 11 months old, spoke to local outlet 11 Alive about the moments that followed the shooting. She described a child overwhelmed by the weight of what had happened, saying, “Just that fast that boy had made the decision to kill himself.”

Smith suggested he may have been consumed by fear of the consequences and public judgment, adding that he “couldn’t take it.” She also said she doesn’t know how Seven obtained the firearm, expressing hope that whoever supplied it faces accountability.

21 Savage, who 11 Alive reports has been identified as an “uncle” to the teen, publicly mourned him following his death. The rapper shared a photo of Seven as a young child, captioning it, “Remember when you was a baby.”

In a statement, the family channeled their grief into a broader call for change, urging their community to help address gun access among minors. “Far too many young lives are being taken by senseless gun violence,” the statement read in part, according to TMZ. The family asked for collective action to “stop the illegal sale and access of firearms to minors and do everything we can to protect our children.”

The tragedy has underscored ongoing concerns about how firearms end up in the hands of young people, a point the family placed at the center of their public appeal as they navigate an unthinkable loss.

This is a sensitive topic. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text at 988.