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"His presence meant a lot," Family holds vigil for child; Mother says he died in accidental shooting

The family of two-year-old Jaden Piedra held a candlelit vigil to honor the life and memory of the child killed last Saturday on the Westside.

The child’s mother, Donna Crump-Piedra, told Action News Jax Ryan Nelson on the day of the shooting she believed the child accidentally shot and killed himself while playing with an unsecured gun.

ORIGINAL: 2-year-old child accidentally shoots himself, dies, mother says

Crump-Piedra told us she and her two sons, ages two and seven, were visiting her friend at the Morningside Apartment complex on Jammes Road when the shooting took place.

She said she did not know who owned the weapon. The family is preparing to bury two-year-old Jaden.

“I didn’t think that I would lose him today,” said Crump-Piedra on Saturday. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without my baby!”

Action News Jax has learned DCF is investigating the shooting. At last word, JSO investigators said this was an active and ongoing investigation.

Family members like Debra Vorters traveled hundreds of miles to attend tonight’s vigil. She lives in Pennsylvania. Vorters tells Nelson the loss leaves a void in the family they’ll never replace.

“His presence meant a lot,” she said. “All of our kids are important to us. This is a family that we overprotect our youngest ones.”

One by one, family members lit candles placed around the child’s picture. They held hands in prayer, and shared kind words about the child’s memory.

Vorters is reminding gun owners to be responsible.

“Peoples with guns, put your guns up, keeps your guns in a safe place away from your babies, you have to do that,” Vorters said.

We’re reaching out to JSO tonight to determine the present status of the investigation. As soon as we have more, we’ll bring it to you here, online and on the Action News Jax App.

STORY: Questions surround shooting death of Jacksonville 2-year-old boy